Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Aug 6: The appointment of a senior BJP leader and former union minister, Manoj Sinha as the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir has triggered speculations that move is aimed at starting the political process in Jammu and Kashmir.
Former Deputy Chief Minister of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State and senior BJP leader Kavinder Gupta while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “Three time Member Parliament Manoj Sinha is an experienced hand and is a tall leader of Uttar Pradesh. He will play a crucial role in reviving the political process in J&K.”
BJP’s Organizational Secretary for J&K Ashok Kaul told Precious Kashmir that party welcomes the decision of the high command and exuded hope that many things will move in coming days.
Asked whether Sinha’s appointment will pave the way for revival of the political process in J&K Koul said, “Even the former LG (Girish Chander Murmu) could have revived it.” He refused to elaborate further.
Asked whether recent statements of the former LG Murmu about restoration of 4G internet in J&K and Election Commission of India taking strong exception to his statement about timings of assembly polls in the Union Territory led to his ouster, Koul said, “The decision came from the top leadership. We are just foot soldiers and aren’t aware about what transpired at the top level.”
Meanwhile, National Conference Member Parliament Justice (retired) Hasnian Masoodi said, “Former LG Murmu was a bureaucrat and he was staying away from the political parties. Sinha is a politician. His appointment may provide some relief to BJP leaders in Jammu,”
Soon after Sinha was appointed as new Lieutenant Governor of J&K, media reports started claiming that reins of J&K have been handed over to a seasoned politician with a reason. “It seems that New Delhi is keen on empowering the political leadership in Kashmir and Sinha could play a pivotal role in reaching out to the politicians,” said an analyst.
He said, “BJP leaders in J&K during the past few days have dropped enough hints about political scene being all set to change in the Union Territory and Sinha’s appointment could pave the way for it. We need to look towards positives rather than talking about other things.”
The analyst said, “Kashmir based parties apparently are willing to start the political activities but the leaders of these political formations are awaiting response from the government.”
According to a report by The Hindu, Sinha’s quiet and down-to-earth nature will help in reaching out to the people in the state.
In fact, with Sinha’s appointment, the government hopes to reach out to the people of J&K with a soft political touch, Hindustan Times reported.
“The Centre realised that a bureaucrat as L-G was not working well. There was a political vacuum that was created last year with the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories and the abrogation of Article 370,” The Print reported.
Manoj Sinha’s appointment aimed at reviving political process in J&K?
