Only rumour about dividing Jammu and Kashmir says, LG Manoj Sinha

Ground Report | New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir's Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has said that there is no plan to bifurcate the Union Territory. Manoj Sinha said in an interview to a TV channel that such rumours are being spread by those who have their own personal interests. Two years ago, the Government of India divided this province into two parts and its status was reduced from full-state to union territory.

In view of the increased military movement in the Jammu and Kashmir region for the last few days, speculations were being made in many places that this area could be divided again. But the Lieutenant Governor has denied these discussions, calling it a rumour.

In fact, in the past, the number of security forces was suddenly increased in some parts of Kashmir and Jammu, due to which the market of many rumours and speculations got heated. The biggest rumour among them was the partition of Jammu and Kashmir.

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Police officials have told that the change in the deployment of security forces is a routine matter. However, the security forces who were seen moving here and there were on election duty who have been called back. Manoj Sinha also reiterated the same point in his interview.

On Assembly polls and the delimitation process, the LG Sinha said that Prime Minister Narendera Modi has announced at the Lal Qila that once delimitation commission would finish its exercise, J&K will witness Assembly polls. “Let the Delimitation Commission submit its report,” he said. About NC’s participation in Delimitation process, he said if NC takes part in the exercise, they will fulfill their responsibility.

Asked whether militancy has been curbed in J&K, the LG said that the tourist arrivals suggest that peace is prevailing in Kashmir and there is a no law and order situation. “No doubt a few incidents of violence have taken place, but local militant recruitment is down. We have an upper hand on militants. Security forces are maintaining a close coordination. A handful of people are trying to disrupt the peace but government is committed to defeat then and act them as per the law,” he said.

Replying to the query that some people were alleging discrimination against Jammu, he said that in a democracy there is freedom of expression but that doesn’t mean, “Whatever people would say would become government policy.” “My tenure is witness that not a single decision has been taken by my administration where one can smell discrimination. Gone are the days of the discrimination. Jammu and Kashmir are two eyes of the government,” he said.

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When the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was abolished on 5 August 2019, even before that, heavy deployment of security forces was done in Jammu and Kashmir. Along with this, tourists and Amarnath pilgrims present in Kashmir were asked to leave Kashmir.

However, Satya Pal Malik, who was the governor of the state at that time, had also said that "whatever is being said in Jammu and Kashmir, they are all rumours." But later these rumours proved to be true. After the abrogation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, there was a prolonged lockdown in Kashmir and some main opposition leaders, including hundreds of political activists, were arrested.

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