JAMMU: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on March 20 added his weight to the growing pressure on the Central Government to revamp the State administration.
Speaking at the condolence meeting held here to mourn the killing of National Conference leader Wali Mohammad Iltoo Dr Abdullah lashed out at both the Center and the State Government charging them with failure to protect the lives of the people and demanded that an immediate administrative reshuffle be claimed out in the State Dr. Abdullah’s demand is considered Significant because Minister of State for Home Rajesh Pilot had made similar strictures against the State administration und said that the Center would “not hesitate to make changes in the State administration if necessary + Pilot is known to be unhappy with the functioning of Vic Governor and has also been lobbying for the appointment of a political advisory council so that State politicians can have a greater say in the Administration and help in the revival of political processes in the State.
Governor K.V.Krishna Rao however has stoutly been opposed to the proposal with the result that even though Pilot had announced in parliament the Government’s intention to appoint political observers not forward movement has been made in this direction. Dr Abdullah was unsparing in his criticism of the State Administration as he demanded a thorough reshuffle. “If the present structure in the State is not revamped immediately or set right the Center will be responsible for the dangerous situation emerging” he said.
Referring to the reported infighting in the Home Ministry Dr. Abdullah noted one minister says that the political process is being initiated in the State while the other counters him saying time is not ripe for the process.”
In his hard hitting speech Dr. Abdullah said he had several meetings with Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao recently but nothing tangible emerged.
Today Mr. Iltoo has been killed tomorrow it might be someone else” he said.
He said he did not want to rule the State as he was not power hungry but “let those who are at the helm of affairs guarantee protection of the PEOPLE He said: “The time has come when mere assurances would not do. The Center will have to do something at once otherwise the country would have to face consequences of its inaction.
Asserting that the National Conference could not be deterred with the “senseless killings” of its leaders he said “We have to initiate the political process in the State which cannot be left at the mercy of the Governor “if the process is Not started soon it will be difficult to exile the situation
Article extracted from this publication >> March 25, 1994
