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• Banking on criticism The move to alter the
hen Satya Pal Malik was ideologies”. Following which senior status of J&K Bank has evoked sharp criticism
appointed Jammu and National Conference leader Omar
Kashmir Governor on Abdullah demanded an investigation
August 21, people across into Governor’s claim that there were their occupants.
W the Valley viewed it the horse-trading and the use of money in The Gujjar and Bakerwal groups have
BJP’s bid to push its agenda on the abro- the attempts towards government for- been upset with the repeal of the Act.
gation of Article 35 A and 370. Although, mation in the state. They said that while the rich and influ-
Malik did not rake these issues for the last The Governor later said that had he ential managed to grab the benefits, their
over three months but has been mired looked towards Delhi for instructions, applications had remained pending.
with controversies. His actions and state- Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone There was also a political storm
ments have even united the rival politi- would have formed the government. after reports appeared in the media that
cal parties of the state-the National Con- “I did not want to be remembered as a “changes” were being proposed to the
ference and Peoples Democratic Party dishonest man and so I dissolved the rules governing the issuance of perma-
and have been widely opposed by other assembly,” the Governor had said, hinting nent resident certificates.
parties including separatists, employ- towards the Centre’s interference into The former chief minister and leader
ees, and traders, overshadowing all the the functioning of the government. The of National Conference, Omar Abdul-
good work that his administration has statement did not go well within the BJP lah tweeted after he wrote a letter to the
achieved. Governor, “My letter to @jandkgovernor
Malik whipped a political storm when on behalf of @JKNC_ placing on record
he claimed that politicians had set aside J&K Bank Chairman issued without any consultation with the who happens to be one of the directors, The SAC approved the our concern about reports of changes
the J&K Bank’s selection of 582 candi- bank’s board of directors (comprising the is nominated by the board (who is spon- being proposed to the J&K permanent
dates for appointing their political work- Parvez Ahmad claims RBI and state government nominees). sored by the state government) and ap- proposal of treating residents’ certificate rules.”
ers. The revelations made by the Gover- that there was It was seen another blow to J&K’s proved/confirmed by RBI. Hence the role the J&K Bank as a However, Malik said his administra-
nor took people by surprise who sought constitutionally guaranteed autonomy. of government in respect of the bank has tion was not making or considering any
investigations. absolute transparency The move to alter the status of JK Bank to be specified within the well-drawn PSU has created fear changes in the procedures governing the
J&K Bank Chairman Parvez Ahmad and fairness in the evoked sharp criticism from all political redlines,” he said. of uncertainty and issuance of permanent resident certifi-
later in a statement claimed that there parties, including separatists, traders, Columnist Fida Iqbal said a large cates (PRCs) in Jammu and Kashmir.
were absolute transparency and fair- recruitment process, and its employees. number of organisations from the socio- desperation among “As for the matters in the rest of your
ness in the recruitment process. Follow- while the Governor, Senior National Conference leader political spectrum has raised their voice the stakeholders, letter, I would like to highlight that no
ing which the Governor called JK Bank a and former finance minister Abdul against this move. “Maybe they are right changes in the procedural rules govern-
“wonderful” institution. calls the bank a Rahim Rather said it has created a when they say it is a clandestine move says noted economist ing the issue of PR certificates will ever be
He also questioned the functioning of wonderful institution political interference and will bring JK towards diluting state’s special status Professor Nisar Ali done without larger consultations with
the Public Service Commission, saying Bank at par with failing public sector as envisaged in the constitution. Where all stakeholders,” the Governor replied.
that a youth was selected for the Kashmir undertakings. were they when other vital decisions Now, the Governor administration is
Administrative Services without appear- and Peoples Conference. “It is shocking that the JK Bank has were taken during their regime to mir State Lands (Vesting of Ownership to mulling to grant the divisional status of
ing for the exam. Political analyst professor, Noor been reduced to a public sector under- impose certain laws that otherwise were the Occupants) Act popularly known as Ladakh region. The PDP chief and for-
Malik’s remarks about “huge corrup- Mohammad Baba, said that dissolution taking,” he said. not applicable to the state,” he asked. the Roshni Act. mer chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has
tion” plaguing the state did not go well of the assembly was an advantage for The bank employees have also “Governments decision to declare JK The Roshni Act envisaged the transfer warned agitation if the government did
within the political parties. The Peoples the PDP. “There was a constant talk going opposed the decision and have been pro- Bank as PSU cannot be entirely correct of ownership rights of state land to its oc- not stop “anti-JK” decisions. She accused
Democratic Party called him “defaming” that many PDP MLAs may support the testing against the order. especially its timing and the authority to cupants, subject to the payment of a cost, the Malik of “encroaching” upon political
Kashmir. BJP and PC in government formation. As Noted economist Professor Nisar change its shape, but it is not wrong as as determined by the government. The space by raking sensitive issues.
On November 21, he ordered the dis- the assembly has been dissolved, there Ali said the state administrative coun- well as many red arrows point towards decision to repeal the Roshni Act came Senior Congress leader GN Monga has
solution of the 87-member state assem- are now fewer chances, the disgruntled cil (SAC) approved the proposal of the working and health of the bank after demands from Ankur Sharma, an urged the Governor not to raise contro-
bly, that was kept suspended since June may leave the PDP,” Baba added. treating the JK Bank as a public sector particularly for last more than a year,” advocate. Sharma, who was instrumen- versial issues.
21, following claims for government The day after dissolving the assembly, undertaking (PSU) has created fear of he added. tal in setting up the Hindu Ekta Manch to “Over the past four years, the people in
formation by two groups — BJP-backed the State Administrative Council (SAC), “uncertainty and desperation” among the Even senior Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz support the accused in the gangrape and the state have suffered a lot due to the in-
Sajad Gani Lone and PDP’s Mehboo - headed by Malik, exercised the state stakeholders. Umar Farooq called it Delhi’s “ploy to murder of the 8-year-old Kuthua girl in competence and mismanagement of the
ba Mufti with the support of NC and government’s controlling 59.3 per cent “The SAC could have used a term crush J&K’s economic independence.” January. BJP government. And now it seems same
Congress. share in the J&K Bank to convert it from semi-PSU instead PSU to avoid contro- The escalating row prompted Malik to On November 20, Sharma asked the is being repeated during the Governor
Governor’s cited four main reasons being a privately-run banking entity into versy. Having a major shareholding, near allay fears, who reassured to a delegation Governor to withdraw the Act in order rule. People of Jammu and Kashmir are
for dissolving the Assembly including a public sector undertaking (PSU). Apart about 60 per cent from the state govern- of bank officers that he would re-exam- to “defeat the jihadi war in the form of paying a heavy price for the failed poli-
“extensive horse-trading and possible from giving the government (state legis- ment the majority directors on the board ine the order and that the bank would demographic invasion of Jammu”. cies of BJP government,” Monga said.
exchange of money” and the “impos - lature) unbridled control, it also brought are from the state government. There- continue to be regulated by the RBI. The SAC has ordered cancellation of
sibility” of forming a stable govern - the bank under the purview of the Right fore, the government influences its deci- Malik on November 28 also approved all pending applications seeking vest- The author is a Srinagar based journalist
ment by parties with “opposing political to Information (RTI) Act. The order was sion through its directors. The chairman, the annulment of the Jammu and Kash- ing of ownership rights of state lands to LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

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