Militancy has Developed into a Collusion of Vested Interests Both in Separatist and Mainstream Lobbies

Hakeem Irfan Rashid   

‘Guv’s own assessment and conclusion will pave the way for any future decision’

Union minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday said that many people have vested interests in promoting militancy and many elements in pro-election parties referred to as mainstream and separatists do not want militancy to end in the state.

The minister of state in the PMO was present at the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Satya Pal Malik as the 13th governor of the state replacing NN Vohra, who held the post for over 10 years.

“Militancy has turned into a vested interest (for some). A lot of elements are there who don’t want an end to militancy here. Militancy has developed into a collusion of vested interests both in so-called separatist and mainstream lobbies,” Singh told reporters on the sidelines of the function. He said politicians in Kashmir have learned to survive in the atmosphere of mayhem, but common people have moved on.

“Those who were flourishing and were experts in doing politics in a vacuum are feeling unsafe and insecure now,” he said, while condemning the frequent killing of policemen by militants in the Valley.

The appointment of the new governor has fuelled speculation that a new government would be formed in the state as the assembly continued to remain in suspended animation after the break-up of the PDPBJP alliance in June this year.

Singh said: “BJP never indulges in the politics of jod tod. It is the prerogative of the governor as has happened before. The governor’s rule was imposed after his assessment of the ground situation and in future also, the governor will decide. His own assessment and conclusion will pave the way for any future decision.”

The new governor refused to speak to the media during the ceremony. Many state BJP leaders and two former chief ministers — Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti — were also present at the function.

“I hope the new governor lives up to the expectations of the people,” said Abdullah, while maintaining silence on the possibility of forming a new government.

“I am not God. I can’t say when the new government will be formed,” said Abdullah, when asked about why he was cozying up to the BJP. He also received the new governor at the Srinagar airport. Earlier this week, he had made a passionate speech at an all-party prayer meet for former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi.

A lot of elements are there who don’t want an end to militancy here... Those who were flourishing and were experts in doing politics in a vacuum are feeling unsafe & insecure now Jitendra Singh, MOS, PMO

HakeemIrfan.Rashid@timesgroup.com

Courtesy: Economic Times: Aug, 24 2018