Ishfaq gulzar cni
JAMMU, cni Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today said the law and order in Jammu and Kashmir should stay with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) even as he maintained that he has good relations with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and work between the LG and the CM has been defined under J&K Reorganization Act and if there is any confusion it is being seen through exchange of communications.Jammu real estate
In an interview to a national weekly magazine, Sinha, who will be completing five years in office on August 7, said: “Jammu and Kashmir is a border State. Our neighbor (Pakistan) is such for whom I needn’t to say anything. I feel the law and order should stay with the MHA. The Home Ministry will take a call when the things are normal”.
He was responding to a question on whether police and security in J&K should stay with the MHA through the Lieutenant Governor.
To another question on his relations with the CM, Sinha said work areas of the Lieutenant Governor and the elected Government have been defined under Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act passed by the Parliament. In the areas where there is some confusion, the communications are being exchanged, he added.
“I know my limits and won’t go beyond them,” he said, adding that he met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on many occasions.
On his five years in the office, the Lieutenant Governor said that authority of the Indian State has now been fully established in Jammu and Kashmir.
The J&K has integrated with India completely. And these are the major achievements, he said, and added that he worked sincerely and honestly for development, peace, economy and employment in J&K.
He reiterated that restoration of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is the commitment of Home Minister (Amit Shah) in the Parliament and will be fulfilled at an appropriate time.
“When the bill for abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A was introduced in the Parliament, the Home Minister, in his reply, had stated that delimitation will be done first, followed by Assembly elections and Statehood at an appropriate time. Some parties cast doubts over delimitation and Assembly polls which were conducted peacefully and now an elected Government is in place. Restoration of Statehood is also an assurance given in the Parliament and it will be fulfilled at an appropriate time,” he said.
Sinha said the Government of India will respect the commitment but when it is done we will have to wait.