Srinagar- Amid escalating tensions between the Raj Bhavan and the ruling NC-led alliance over bureaucratic control, Jammu and Kashmir MLAs on Friday asserted that their silence should not be mistaken for weakness. “We have said this repeatedly, and this is our final request—do not push us to the wall,” National Conference chief spokesperson and MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq told reporters after an emergency meeting of the ruling alliance’s legislature party.
The meeting passed two resolutions: one condemning the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill by parliament, and the other calling for respecting people’s mandate.
Tensions flared after LG Manoj Sinha ordered the transfer of 48 officers of the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) on Tuesday. The Abdullah government views this move as a violation of the legal and administrative framework set under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act.
“The elections in J&K were hailed for their high voter turnout. Now, if anyone chooses to ignore that mandate or undermine it, they are showing sheer disregard for the people’s choice,” Sadiq said. He emphasized that the ruling alliance’s coordination with Delhi and the LG administration was solely for the welfare of the people.“Our coordination, or even our silence, should not be seen as weakness,” he warned.
Expressing his strong disapproval of the transfer order, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, LG Sinha and Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, asserting these orders were issued without any “lawful authority” and undermine the authority of the elected government.
According to sources, Abdullah has said the transfer of JKAS officers to cadre posts falls squarely within the elected government’s purview.
The chief minister has been also pressing for the finalisation of the Transaction of Business Rules, which were approved by the cabinet on March 6, and wrote the delay in issuing these rules is contributing to the current administrative friction.
In his letter to Sinha, Abdullah asked him to review the “unilateral” decision, saying such orders undermine the functioning and authority of the elected government.
Abdullah asked the chief secretary to ensure no transfer or posting orders for non-All India Services officers were issued without the CM’s prior approval.
In his letter to Shah, Abdullah said a series of actions by the LG, including the contested transfers, have eroded the authority of the elected government, highlighting a growing tension between the elected administration and the LG’s office.
The unscheduled legislature party meeting, chaired by Abdullah and attended by NC president Farooq Abdullah, was held at Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary’s residence at the Gupkar Road here.
The meeting was also attended by cabinet ministers, all NC MLAs, four Congress legislators, led by chief whip Nizamuddin Bhat, and Independents supporting the Abdullah government.
The meeting also assumes significance in view of scheduled three-day visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“The meeting held a threadbare discussion on various issues and passed two important resolutions – one condemning the passing of Waqf (Amendment) Bill (in both houses of parliament) which we consider anti-minority,” Tanvir Sadiq said.
He said the National Conference-led government wants a cordial relation with New Delhi and the Raj Bhavan here, but it should not be considered “our weakness”.
“We want to run this government with love and respect and work smoothly. It should not be construed as our weakness. We are repeatedly saying this and this is our final request that do not push us to the wall. We want coordination among the Centre, the LG administration and our government. Do not consider our silence as weakness,” he said.
Nizamuddin Bhat of the Congress said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the prevailing political situation and the Constitutional and administrative affairs.
“Both long term and short-term issues of immediate consideration came up for discussion during the meeting… everyone should understand that all the MLAs in the alliance are fully behind the leader of the house — Omar Abdullah,” he said.
Bhat said the party’s J-K president Tariq Hamid Karra and legislature party leader G A Mir could not attend the meeting due to an important party meeting in Delhi. “I was given the mandate to accompany the three other MLAs in the meeting,” he said.
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