JAMMU A Raj Bhawan fax machine opened a new battleground in the state with the NC Thursday alleging democracy was “scuttled” as it was not functioning, even as Governor Satya Pal Malik said the fax-operator was unavailable on Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi, a state holiday.
Letters to stake claim to form government by the PDP and a two-member party, People’s Conference, allegedly failed to reach the governor Wednesday, apparently because the machine was not operational
The Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP is being supported by the National Conference (NC) and the Congress, while People’s Conference claimed support of the BJP and 18 legislators from other parties.
However, their bids to form government were cut short after Malik dissolved the state assembly Wednesday night.
In a sarcastic remark, NC leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah said, “This is the first time that a fax machine has scuttled democracy.”
“This fax machine is strange, just like the traffic management in Srinagar, one way only. This machine stops working on one sign, and starts working on next sign. Only outgoing fax, no incoming fax. This fax machine needs to be investigated,” he told reporters in Srinagar.
Taking a dig at the Raj Bhawan on the issue, PDP chief Mehbooba, “Have been trying to send this letter to Rajbhavan. Strangely the fax is not received. Tried to contact HE Governor on phone. Not available. Hope you see it @jandkgovernor”.
However, Governor Malik, said they should have known offices are closed on Eid day, the PDP should have sent a man with the letter.
“Both of them (Mehbooba and Omar) are devote Muslims. They should know the offices are closed on Eid day. Even my cook was in the house, leave aside the fax operator. There was no system”, he said countering the allegations at a press conference here.
“It is matter of bhanabazi. Even if they would have come (to deliver letter), it was my stand, what I did”, Malik said.
Defending his decision to dissolve the assembly, the governor claimed “extensive horse-trading” was going on and it would have been impossible for parties with “opposing political ideologies” to form a stable government.
“The decision to dissolve the assembly was taken as per the Constitution of the Jammu and Kashmir. In the case of Jammu and Kashmir, I don’t need to take the permission from Parliament, and I just need to inform the President about the decision,” he said addressing a press conference.
Last night, in a dramatic development the Governor dissolved the Assembly after mainstream parties PDP, NC and Congress staked claim to form the government which was followed by People’s Conference leader Sajad Lone making a rival claim to power with the backing of BJP and rebel PDP MLAs.
Asked about the charge that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference (NC) received commands from Pakistan to form the government, Malik said, “I don’t say such things. I am in a responsible post and I won’t say anything without any evidence. This grand alliance was opportunistic. There was no agreement. Even one party was saying that there was no formal interaction among them to form the government.”
He also denied the charge that he was acting at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party. “They (PDP, NC and Congress) know well what the BJP headquarters wanted. The BJP had a candidate here. If I would have heard the BJP, then I would have called their side. But I did what I thought best according to the Constitution.”
Malik also alleged that for the last 15-20 days he was getting reports on horse trading of MLAs.
“I had said this in beginning that I would not support anybody underhand or by defection or who has been threatened. I wanted the elected government here,” he said.
“I had decided to dissolve the assembly as the legislators of these parties were indulging in horse trading. I had been receiving the news of horse trading for last 15-20 days. I received the reports of horse trading, MLAs being threatened, and if I would have given opportunity to anyone then more horse trading would have been done here. And the entire political, judicial system of the state would have been ruined,” he said.
Malik said that in the recently-concluded four-phased municipality elections no casualty or violence was reported in the state. “We are taking the state on the path of development. We were taking democracy to the grassroots,” he said.
Hailing forces and the police for bringing the situation under control in the state, he said, “Forces are safeguarding us and they have brought the situation under control in the valley. There has been a drastic fall in the number of stone pelting incidents.”
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