Defends transferring J&K officials, says decision on PoK lies with Centre
STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday defended his recent order of transferring 48 Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officials, saying he knows his limits and would never cross them.
Sinha made the remarks at an event in Delhi on a day Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a legislature party meeting here of his National Conference and its allies, including the Congress.
The meeting passed two resolutions, one of which called for all to respect people’s mandate, in an apparent disapproval of the Raj Bhavan issuing the transfer and posting orders.
In a short video clip recorded at his Delhi event, the Lt Governor is heard saying, “I would like to make it clear that the J&K Reorganisation Act was passed by the Parliament in 2019. And I am saying with great responsibility that I have not done anything outside this Act.
“I am well within my domain and I will never do anything outside of that. I know my limits and I will never cross those limits,” he says in the clip, which has been widely circulated on social media.
The Lieutenant Governor also made a strong statement regarding Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), highlighting the stark contrast between India’s rapid development in Jammu and Kashmir and PoK’s deteriorating conditions.
“Amid rising discontent in Pakistan, many Pakistanis have started questioning their own government’s failures while acknowledging India’s remarkable progress in Jammu & Kashmir,” he said adding that reports highlighted that Pakistani citizens are openly writing articles comparing both sides of Kashmir.
Many in Pakistan note that while J&K enjoys robust road connectivity, modern hospitals, and a flourishing infrastructure under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, PoK is struggling with basic necessities, forcing people to stand in long queues even for essential food items like rice and wheat, the Lieutenant Governor added.
Referring to the growing debate over PoK’s future, the Lieutenant Governor said that any decision regarding PoK will be taken solely by the Central Government. He emphasized his role and jurisdiction, saying, ” The responsibility of making strategic decisions regarding PoK lies entirely with the Government of India.”
“The situation in PoK continues to deteriorate as Pakistan’s economic crisis worsens. The lack of basic amenities, unemployment, and political instability have further fueled resentment among PoK residents, who now see India’s governance as a model of progress,” Sinha said.
Meanwhile, Sinha said, India’s growing infrastructure and investment in Jammu & Kashmir reinforce New Delhi’s commitment to the region’s long-term stability and prosperity.
