Muhammad Raafi
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government officials on Monday brushed aside the rumours of any possible administrative and political changes in the Union Territory.
Rumours are rife in Jammu and Kashmir, for the past few days, particularly in the Kashmir valley which has created a lot of uncertainty among the people.
The rumours gained ground after the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Home Secretary AK Bhalla in Delhi.
A senior administrative official told Kashmir Observer that the LG’s meetings were a routine exercise and the current round of meetings was to discuss the situation in J&K, besides other regular administrative work.
However, the officials did not rule out changes in bureaucracy, and decisions on holding of Amarnath pilgrimage, besides the delimitation process in the Union Territory.
Although there has not been any official statement, however, official sources said, the meetings were overdue as the top central leadership was either busy in elections in other parts of the country, or the meetings were delayed due to the rising coronavirus situation in the country.
The meeting in the national capital has triggered a series of speculations and rumours in Kashmir with people apprehending shift in the present situation. While some speculate the possibility of the restoration of the statehood, there are also rumours about the bifurcation of the Union Territory. However, officials outrightly rejected the bifurcation of the UT and did not comment on the restoration of statehood.
“It is a political decision,” the officials said.
The meetings in Delhi are also expected to take a call on the Amarnath yatra, which is scheduled to begin later this month.
However, in April, in view of the massive spike in the coronavirus cases, the process of registration for the pilgrimage was suspended.
Another government official, however, said that the administration is exploring options of going ahead with “a limited” annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine in south Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Spokesperson Abhiram Pankaj told Kashmir Observer that the troops arriving in the valley had gone on election duty to other parts of the country and they were being redeployed.
He said that there is no confirmation about the Amarnath yatra yet.
“We do not know if the yatra will be held or not. There is no clear indication.” He said that the “troop movement” has most likely to do with the Amarnath yatra.
The official quoted above said with the elevation of Arun Mehta as Chief Secretary, the position of Secretary Finance requires to be filled up and this exercise is set to cause reshuffle at the senior level.
Besides, the change of police guard is also on cards. The current Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh is about to complete three years in office in September this year. Singh is expected to be picked for a top position at a central agency or paramilitary force, he said.
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