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| Will Governor Sinha gets another term for manning Raj Bhawan ? | | |
Jammu, June 22
Will Governor, Lt. Gen (Retd) S K Sinha get extension on completing his term next year? This question has started evincing interest not only the Raj Bhawan but has also set commotion in the political circles in the state.
Raj Bhawan sources said that Gen Sinha is due to complete his tenure on June 4, 2008. Agency reports said that highly placed official sources confirmed that a couple of months ago the centre had toyed with the idea of replacing Sinha a year before his term ended but Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, is said to have persuaded Prime Minister and the UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi not to change the guard in the Raj Bhawan.
It also believed that Azad’s persuasion in favour of retaining the services of Sinha were accepted by the Prime Minister.
Official sources said that the centre had decided to send N N Vohra as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir in place of Sinha. The idea behind appointing Vohra as Governor was to open the dialogue channels, which stand choked, with separatist of various hues. Vohra as centre’s main negotiator on Kashmir had already developed links with several separatist leaders and he could develop these links while being in the Raj Bhawan.
Sources said that Mr Azad has been very comfortable with Sinha as Governor. During the last 15 months the two have been holding frequent meetings where they exchange notes on the security and political scenario in the state.
According to these sources, Azad has been seeking guidance from the Governor from time to time which has helped him to improve the security environment and work culture in the state.
This was not the case when Mufti Mohd. Sayeed headed the Government. The Mufti would not visit the Raj Bhawan as often as Azad has been doing. The tussle between the Mufti and Gen. Sinha surfaced when the former objected to the plan of the Amarnath Shrine Board, which is headed by Sinha, to extend the annual Yatra by two months. The Governor won and the Mufti lost the battle.
Raj Bhawan sources said that Gen. Sinha has remained very active all these years. He traveled to most of the far flung areas in the state for interacting with the people. He had not rejected invitation from educational institutions, organizers of seminars and conferences and cultural shows which indicated that he was physically and mentally fit for serving the people if he was given another term. Constitution provides for extension in the tenure of the Governor.
The sources said that from June onwards the Assembly poll process will start in the state as the election is due to be held in September-October. As such it would not be proper for the centre to change the guard in the Raj Bhawan during the election year. Since Azad is likely to continue to head the Government he would try his best to oppose any move the replace Sinha.
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