Malik is the best choice for J&k Governorship State is faced with wide challenges

 

Shri Sat Pal Malik, the new Governor of J&K State, is a career politician who has been associated with various political parties of this country from time to time. In fact, he is the first political Governor of J&K after Dr. Karan Singh, when Dr. Karan Singh reached to such a position by historical propulsions. In 1949, at the age of eighteen, Dr. Karan Singh, son of Maharaja Hari Singh, became the regent of the princely state, after Maharaja Hari Singh stepped down as the ruler, following the state's accession to India. He then became the Sadar-e-Riyasat of J&K. This office of the Sadar-e-Riyasat was converted into "Governor's office, as per the Constitution of Jammu & Kashmir, Sixth Amendment Act, in the year 1965.

In 1967, he resigned as Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and became the youngest-ever member of the Union Cabinet. He was followed by veteran bureaucrats of that time as the Governors of the state, víz, Sh. Bhagwan Sahay, Sh.L.K. Jha and Sh.B.K Nehru. This bureaucratic pattern of governorship ended with the appointment of Sh. Jagmohan, known to be an able administrator, to succeed Sh. B.K.Nehru. His tenure as the Governor of the state remained there for two terms, (1984-1989) and (January - 1990 to May-1990), when militancy was at its peak in the valley. During his first term as Governor, he was followed by ex-Army Chief, Gen. Krishna Rao(July 1989-Jan 1990). when Sh. Jagmohan again replaced him on 19 January1990 and continued on this post till 26May-1990.

He was replaced by ex-R&AW Chief Sh. G.C. Saxena, who continued on this post till March 1993, when he was again replaced by ex.-Army Chief, Gen. Krishna Rao, who held this post again for the second time till May-1998.

Sh. Saxena, again, replaced Gen. Krishna Rao as the Governor of the state and held this post till June 2003, for the second time. Sh.Saxena was followed by another veteran army general Sh. S.K. Sinha, who held this post till June 2008

Sh. N.N. Vohra succeeded Gen. S.K. Sinha, who was a bureaucrat and was probably preferred for this post due to his past experience as Government of India's Interlocutor, for the state of Jammu Kashmir, during the last phase of Sh. A Bahan Vajpayee's time as the Prime Mini

India. The other factors which worked in his favour, for his appointment as the govem of the state, were that he had handled Kash As the Home Secretary and Defense Secrets of India Sh. Vohra established a good reputation as the governor.

The selection of Sh. Malik as the governor of the state now breaks the long Sell of choosing the governor amongst the bureaucrats, generals and the chiefs of the intelligence agencies.

This state of India which is riddled with violence insurgency, militancy and the feeling of separatism from decades, leading to radicalization, now, needs the services of a matured political figure having administrative skills too, as the governor of the state particularly when the state is under the spell of a governor's rule presently. The new governor Sh. Malik, is a suitable choice for this post, as he has several years of political experience at the national level to his credit. He is known for his affability and outreach along with good political acumen across the political spectrum of India. He is well read and capable enough to easily engage any political opponent for a political dialogue. He is not new to this post as he was already functioning as the governor of Bihar

The challenges before him as the new governor are voluminous, which can hardly be listed in this small appraisal in detail, But to mention some such tasks, in brief, his first task ahead will be to focus on good governance and setting right the faulty and inept administration. Similarly, attending to the problems of militancy too has to be a priority of the first order, when this militancy is a direct product of the dynastic rules, which the state and its subjects have faced ever since 1947. These dynastic rules by a few selected

families of the state, have never allowed the state to grow, with a positive growth for their inherent interests of ruling the state for generations, like its monarchs. Elections were rigged during such rules, thus alienating the common masses from the mainstream, by usurping their rights of franchise and the right to live.

Such atrocities on the civil liberties of the common masses  of Kashmir resulted in some amongst them taking to guns and speaking languages of separatism which was

and abetted by the inimical forces across the border, which suited their intent and purpose in the international forums, for aggravating their stake on Kashmir. These dynastic rulers are on record to be masters in doublespeak,

would often speak the language of separatists on the soil of Kashmir, for their vote bank politics and in the same breath would praise India, too, once in Delhi. It has, of late. been observed when one such political leader showered undisputed faith upon India, when the same political leader just some time back, on the eve of his elections, declared in his local speeches that the stone pelters in the valley were freedom fighters fighting for their "Wattan". Similarly, such persons among the rulers of the dynastic base are on record to have been praising the Modi Government in Delhi, and yet have often spoken about having talks with Pakistan, that too on our borders, while condoling the civilian deaths on various borders of the state, without condemning the acts of brutal killings of our citizens at the borders due to unprovoked firing by the Pakistani military. Probably, such pseudo secular political parties need to be asked by the new dispensation of governance to wind up their political shop for the better and greater interests of peace and tranquillity in the state. They are the people who heavily obstructed and objected to the rehabilitation of displaced KPs back in Kashmir, even though appropriate plans for the same were devised and drafted by Government of India.

The task ahead for the new governor is to convey to the masses of Kashmir that the country wants peace in Kashmir, and also have enough respect for each Kashmiri within the definition of the Indian nationhood. Looking to the sectarian agenda of various political parties of Kashmir, the present governor's rule, which is now in the hands of a new matured personality, who is quite competent to handle such a job, will demonstrate the benefits of non-sectarian governance in a deeply divided state.

He, being the fittest choice as a career politician, will interact frankly with all the sections of the people of the state.

Likewise the problem of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) and their rehabilitation back to their homes and hearts with honour and dignity has to be an equal priority for the new governor. Martyrdom of their brothers and sisters for the cause of India in Kashmir should not be allowed to go waste.

Similarly, the development of the state as a whole on an even basis covering all the regions of the state with equanimity and rationally has to be ensured to take its roots. Such a step will act as a catalyst for social healing.

To ensure such steps for an appropriate development and growth of all the regions of the state, the significant challenge before the new governor will be to gear up the state administration and even overhaul it to a great extent as some of such sections in the administration have deep roots in the erstwhile dynastic rulers.

Let us hope and pray that the state develops under the new dispensation of governance and gets rid of the militancy which has ruined and devastated the common masses.

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Courtesy:- Er. P.L. Khushu  " and Koshur Samachar September ,2018