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| Challenges before N.N.Vohra as new constitutional head | | | Gareeb Dass
Jammu | June 13
Though the appointment of N.N.Vohra as the new Governor in Jammu and Kashmir has the approval of ruling coalition leaders,it may not alone help him to have a smooth sailing in the Raj Bhawan.As the Governor he has to perform a balancing role which could keep both the warring Congress and the PDP leadership in good humour.His first challenge,soon after his swearing in ceremony,is expected to be to calm down those,including PDP leaders,who have been vocal in opposing a two-month duration for the annual Amarnath Yatra and those who had targeted the Governor for having secured allotment of vast tracks of land in Baltal belt for the construction of a road that could facilitate the pilgrims trek to the holy cave.This section of people and politicians have even opposed the plan of the Shrine Board,which is headed by the Governor,to set up prefabricated tents and toilets for the benefit of the pilgrims on the plea that it will result in polluting and defiling the environment in the mountain belt.And by the time N.N.Vohra reaches Srinagar to man the Raj Bhawan the Board would have completed the setting up of prefabricated tents and toilets.Not only this the yatra too would have started from Jammu.
As such N.N.Vohra,who has the reputation of a seasoned bureaucrat with deep insight into the political frame of Jammu and Kashmir,may not venture to undo what his predecessor had done with the help of Chief Minister,Ghulam Nabi Azad.When S.K.Sinha announced the Board plan of retaining the two-month period for the annual Amarnath yatra the Chief Minister had not raised any objections.When Sinha decided to construct a road or establish prefabricated huts and toilets,which could check pollution of the mountain range,it had the backing of Ghulam Nabi Azad.As far as the two-month period for the yatra was concerned S.K.Sinha followed rules.The Sen Gupta committee,which had been set up several years ago to probe into the pilgrim casulaties owing to weather problem,had recommended that not more than 5,000 pilgrims be allowed to march to the cave per day.Since the state authorities and the Shrine Board expect a rush of over four lakh pilgrims restricting the yatra period to 15 days will not allow all the registered pilgrims to visit the holy cave.Even if Vohra sccumbs to pressure mounted by the PDP leadership,chances being remote,he may not be in a position to alter the yatra period at this stage as it would result in an uproar all over the country.The PDP leadership and others have objected to the construction of a road at Baltal on the plea that it would result in deforestation.Vohra can rectify it,as head of the Amarnath Shrine Board,by taking in hand massive plantation programme in the area with the help of the funds from the Board.
At least till the new Assembly is constituted in November,after the end of the election,N.N.Vohra has to get attuned to the whims of the Congress and the PDP leadership trying to settle scores with each other on one pretext or the other.Since there are no possibilities for any political party to secure absolute majority in the Assembly the ensuing elections may throw up a hung House warranting a coalition Government.And the conflict between the two coalition partners was likely to sustain political instability.Here Vohra will be required to perform a balancing act without misusing his constitutional powers.Political circles in Kashmir have been opposed to the plan of the Amarnath Shrine Board to set up Sharda Peeth University for which land has been identified somewhere in Budgam district.Governor Sinha had suggested to the state Government to submit a draft for the issuance of an ordinance which could facilitate the establishment of the University.It seems the draft could not be submitted because the PDP leadership has not been in favour of the project.Will N.N.Vohra pursue the matter ?This could be the most challenging issue for Vohra.If he does not pursue the matter it would be construed that he has yielded to the pressure mounted by the PDP and others.If he pursues it and gets the draft for issuing the ordinance he could kick up a storm.And those who have not only supported his appointment as Governor but also felt excited over it may be forced to rue their decision.Yes,this season he may not tamper with the Yatra schedule fixed by his predecessor.He may be forced to review it the next season and again it will be a challenge to his integrity.He has to find a via media so that supporters of short duration yatra and those favouring two-month period to enable all the pilgrims to make it to the holy cave.It is certain that Vohra will find himself on a bed of thorns but people who know him say that he can sail through all these controversies. |
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