Manoj Sinha, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, addressed the ongoing controversy regarding the alleged increase in the powers of the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Sinha questioned whether any bill to increase these powers had been introduced in Parliament. He highlighted that any such changes would require parliamentary approval.
The Lieutenant Governor’s remarks come in response to Opposition claims stirred by amendments made in July to the transaction rules under the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019. This act, which led to the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories following the revocation of Article 370, granted the Lieutenant Governor extended powers over key administrative areas including police and public order.
The Opposition has criticized these amendments, asserting they would undermine the authority of the Chief Minister and disenfranchise the people of the region. Sinha refuted these claims, emphasizing the forthcoming assembly elections and the goals of future governance which he said should focus on peace, prosperity, development, transparency, and employment generation.
Discussing the potential restoration of statehood, Sinha referenced the sequence outlined by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which prioritizes delimitation, followed by assembly elections, with statehood to be considered subsequently.
Sinha also expressed optimism about voter turnout in the upcoming assembly elections, recalling higher participation rates in recent parliamentary elections compared to previous decades. He attributed this increase to the strengthened roots of democracy in the region.
Regarding the participation of controversial groups like Jamaat-e-Islami in the elections, Sinha noted that election laws and the Constitution govern candidacy eligibility, suggesting that any restrictions on such groups should be debated in Parliament.
The Lieutenant Governor concluded by affirming his commitment to supporting the elected government’s objectives, underscoring that collaboration rather than conflict should define the relationship between his office and the future administration.
