Suhail Khan
Srinagar, Nov 01: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah issued a sharp rebuke to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, telling him to “focus on your own work,” and asserting that his administration is fully aware of its responsibilities.
The Chief Minister’s remarks came in response to the Lieutenant Governor’s recent statement, in which Sinha asserted that Jammu and Kashmir’s elected government holds full authority to govern and deliver, irrespective of the timeline for the restoration of statehood. “There is no excuse. The elected government must perform,” Sinha had stated.
Reacting strongly, Abdullah as per The Varmul Post/The Web Story retorted, “You do your work, we will do ours.” He contextualized his response by pointing to the deteriorating and challenging ground situation in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Look at our taxis, shikara wallas, and houseboats—they are empty. Why? Because of the attack that happened in Pahalgam,” Omar stated. He then questioned the division of security responsibilities, asking, “So, who is responsible for security? It is not in my hands. If it were, I would never have allowed such a situation to arise in Jammu and Kashmir.”
The Chief Minister, who served a six-year term, challenged the LG’s administration, saying, “Show me one place during my tenure where tourists were made targets.”
Referring to the tragic Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent guests, Omar stated, “We are told to ‘just do your work,’ as if we don’t know how. We know how to work. You do your job, and we will do ours.” He further demanded accountability on larger political promises, adding, “talk about the promise made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the Supreme Court and Parliament.”
The exchange highlights the ongoing political friction over governance in the Union Territory. On Friday, Lieutenant Governor Sinha delineated a clear stance on the statehood issue, indirectly addressing the National Conference (NC) leadership. He dismissed the demand for restored statehood as a prerequisite for administrative work, asserting that all necessary powers already reside with his administration.
“Some people seem to have a problem accepting this clarity. When the assembly elections were held, it was evident they were for the UT assembly. The elected government cannot use the absence of statehood as an excuse to delay governance,” Sinha stated.
In a separate development, National Conference president and former Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah launched also a sharp criticism against Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, accusing him of being untruthful.
“The LG is a liar; he lies every day,” Dr. Abdullah stated. He further alleged, “LG Manoj Sinha has never spoken the truth. He has total control over IAS and IPS officers, and not a single file is moved without his approval.”
