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Srinagar, October 31 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha on Friday said some people are trying to mislead the people of the country by spreading unnecessary speculations about restoration of statehood in the Union Territory.
Addressing a gathering at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Center (SKICC) here, the LG said there was unnecessary speculation on the issue of restoration of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir despite the clarity given by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“The Union Home Minister has already said: first delimitation, then assembly elections and statehood at the appropriate time.”
LG Sinha said, “Some people are trying to mislead the public on this issue. I want to make it clear that the Union Territory government already has enough powers and those powers should be used for public welfare instead of spreading confusion.”
He also said that October 31 marks the birth of a new Jammu and Kashmir, an era that ended fear, separatism and discrimination and ushered in peace, development and democracy.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had recently said that he would resign from the post of Chief Minister if statehood was not restored to the Union Territory within the stipulated time frame.
He also said that hopes of restoring statehood are fading.
The Union Territory government in Jammu and Kashmir has been pressing for restoration of statehood since day one and believes that in the absence of statehood, the government faces serious difficulties in solving the problems of the people.
LG Sinha said that except law and order and transfer powers of services like IPS/IAS, every other power in Jammu and Kashmir rests with the Union Territory government.
Wherever an IPS or IAS officer is posted at the level of Senior Superintendent of Police or District Magistrate, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has full power over their functioning.
IAS officers posted as Administrative Secretaries of various departments also come under the direct control of the Minister in-charge of that department.
Asked to comment on the consensus of the Chief Minister and various ministers in Jammu and Kashmir, LG Sinha said, “There is no question of overlapping of jurisdictions. I know my limits.”
–IANS
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