news details |
|
|
| All eyes on Raj Bhawan | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu|Sep 8: With the reports suggesting that New Delhi is considering a seasoned retired bureaucrat and its chief pointsman NN Vohra as next Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, all eyes are now focused on the possible change at the Raj Bhawan.
Even though there does not seem any immediate urgency in relieving the incumbent Lt Gen (retired) SK Sinha as Governor of Jammu and Kashmir but the reports emanating from New Delhi are suggesting that there is a strong move to have a new Governor in this state.
Meanwhile, Gen Sinha who was away on a tour of America and Venezuela returned Srinagar today. On being contacted, source close to the Raj Bhawan described this as an entire media speculation. "There is no urgency in removing Sinha as Governor as he is yet to complete his full term", said the source. Elaborating further, he said, "Governors are usually replaced when either there is a controversy surrounding them or they have completed a full term or a new government takes over at the Center which intends to adjust their own men thereby removing those appointed by the previous regime.
Gen Sinha, it may be mentioned here, was appointed as Jammu and Kashmir Governor in 2003 during the regime of BJP led NDA Government at the Center. However, when the Congress lead UPA Government took over they replaced Governors in many states but Gen Sinha was allowed to continue.
Meanwhile it is learnt that the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has also argued with the centre that Sinha, who is scheduled to retire in June 2008, may not be changed. On the other hand the PDP leadership has been trying for change of guard in the Raj Bhawan because Sinha and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed have had no smooth relations. The two had crossed swords, when the Mufti was the Chief Minister, over the duration of the annual Amarnath Yatra. While the Governor favoured a two-month pilgrimage the Mufti wanted to curtail it to 15 days and later agreed to make it a one-month long affair. However, the Governor had his way and the annual yatra, during Mufti's rule, was curtailed to 45 days.
Reports said that if the centre accepted the plea of the PDP leadership Sinha may be replaced by some former bureaucrat who had some links with mainstream and separatist political leaders. However, Mr Azad has conveyed to the centre that since the Assembly poll was to take place next year Sinha's term be extended till the end of the next year because change of Governor at this juncture could not prove a wise step.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
