‘Freedom for politics, not anti-national activities’
Fifteen months after constitutional changes nullified its special status, Jammu & Kashmir is set for the District Development Council (DDC) polls. In an exclusive interview with Ramesh Vinayak, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, 61, spoke on the security dynamics, the Gupkar alliance, the Roshni land scam, and a road map on economic revival. Edited excerpts:
It’s been more than three months since you were appointed lieutenant governor. What has been your experience?
After taking over, the biggest challenge I sensed was that common people here didn’t have a platform to air their grievances and get redressal. To that end, I took decisions to create a regular and robust mechanism. All deputy commissioners and superintendents of police will meet the public for an hour five days a week. Likewise, commissioners and inspectors generals of Jammu & Kashmir divisions are meeting people three times a week. There are block divas programmes from 10am to 4pm every Wednesday, when officers of all departments attend to public grievances, including those related to ration cards, revenue records, and social pension. People are more interested in government construction works than social security schemes. A balance between the two is crucial for development. So I focused on 100% saturation of the Government of India’s 55-odd social welfare schemes. After a three-week public awareness programme, the implementation has gathered momentum, and reached 95% in 16 (of the 20) districts.
A key reason, it was speculated, that you were picked was because of the Centre’s keenness to have a political hand. Has lending a political touch helped?
Now I don’t belong to any political party. I have no political leanings at all. Yes, democracy needs a political process, which we have initiated. For grassroots democracy, the most vital is Panchayati Raj institutions. When, in 1992, Parliament enacted the Panchayati Raj Act, it was formulated as a three-tier system – gram sabha, block development council, and district development council (DDC). But for some reasons in J&K, it was only a two-tier system which had the provision for the district development board, on which, instead of elected representatives, MLAs used to be nominated. It was felt that the system elsewhere should be implemented here too. So an amendment was brought to have directly elected district development councils for which the poll process is now underway. It is heartening that a large number of people have enthusiastically filed nominations for DDCs, which will be the third tier. Polling will be the real test of people’s fervour, but feedback suggests an overwhelming response. We want to create a strong Panchayati Raj system in J&K.
What is your assessment of the security scenario in J&K?
Security forces have an upper hand. A few incidents [of terrorism] have taken place, including the recent one at Nagrota. The coordination between security forces is good. J&K Police is now fighting on the front, which is seen as a new development. Security is not a concern. Our forces are fully alert to deal with any situation. There are people in our neighbourhood who want to destabilise the situation. But there is nothing to worry.
When the Centre made constitutional changes in J&K last year, a key argument it made was that this will deal a decisive blow to militancy in Kashmir. But the security situation still appears fragile.
The government has successfully met the challenges on the security front. I don’t agree that the situation is fragile. It is fully under control. You know what was happening here earlier. One can see the difference between then and now.
How do you see the situation at the Line of Control?
Yes, there is cross-border firing. But our forces are giving muhn tor jawab (a befitting response). No one in the country now needs to be told how we retaliate to such situations. The country knows it well, and so does the other side. There has been a considerable decline in infiltration. This is not happening on Kashmir’s LoC. There is a new trend of infiltration from the border in Jammu, and in Punjab.
In the run-up to the DDC elections, there have been targeted killings of political workers, particularly of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). What steps has the government taken to ensure a secure environment?
Such incidents are aimed to diminish the people’s faith in the democratic process and create fear. We got an assessment done and made solid arrangements for security. Attempts to disrupt the election process will not succeed. People want to participate in elections, and our forces are vigilant.
Leaders of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration allege that their candidates are confined in security camps, and are not allowed to move freely for canvassing.
Following their complaints, the state election commissioner has assured a level-playing field. There will be no discrimination. Candidates will have all the freedom to canvass.
How will you build on the DDC elections for the revival of a broader political process ?
Broadly, each district will elect 14 representatives. In some districts, four to five former MLAs are in the fray. So, in a way, it is a mini-MLA election. When the district development board will be constituted, the DDC members will have a pivotal role to play on development priorities of their districts. This election will be a milestone for grassroots democracy and development.
What is your road map to holding elections to the legislative assembly?
The nation and people of J&K have faith in what the Prime Minister said in his Independence Day address with regard to assembly elections here. The delimitation commission is doing its job. It is also working in four states of the north-east. Once delimitation is done, it will be up to Election Commission to hold the polls.
Is there is a time frame for the delimitation exercise?
I can’t tell that. The question as to when will be elections be held should be addressed to Election Commission. Constitutional institutions have their dignity. They should be allowed to do what they are mandated to do.
What is the trend on locals joining militant ranks?
I will go by the numbers put out by security agencies and J&K Police. Their number has considerably declined.
Mainstream Kashmiri leaders allege that the government is not allowing the public to express dissent...
Only India’s Constitution permits one to use unconstitutional language. There is full freedom here for those who want to do political activities. There is no restriction on them. But permission is only for politics, not for anti-national activities.
Security agencies are encouraging Kashmiri youngsters who took to arms to surrender and return to the mainstream. You have promised rehabilitation, which drew criticism in Jammu. How will you strike a balance?
Many youngsters [in militant ranks] are realising that they are on the wrong path, and are returning to the mainstream. This is a new and welcome trend. Nobody should have an objection to this. Agar subha ka gaya sham ko ghar wapis aata hai, use avsar milna chahiye (If one is back on the right path, he should get a chance). What I said with regard to their rehabilitation was misunderstood. Anyone who expresses faith in the Constitution must get a chance.
What is your sense of the street mood in Kashmir? There is a perception that it is hostile to the Indian State.
I don’t see anything like that. I have spent three months in Kashmir. There is a good atmosphere here. People are looking forward to opportunities to progress.
How do you see the formation of the Gupkar alliance on a singlepoint demand for the restoration of Article 370? Do you see it as a sign of strengthening of democracy, or do you endorse the home minister’s view that this is a gang?
It is not my job to make a political comment. The home minister is also a leader of a political party. He may have said something. In the country, anyone is free to form a political alliance. Some people have made that [alliance]. The public will decide.
Kashmiri parties are crying foul over the decision to make public names of those allegedly involved in Roshni land scam.
The administration has not decided anything at its own level. The Roshni Act, and how people got the government land under it, has been under the scanner for a long time. There is already a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on this. In 2018, the act was scrapped by the then governor. Some public interest litigations were filed in the high court, which last month held that all land allotments under the act were illegal. It also directed the divisional commissioners in Jammu and Srinagar to upload the names of those who were allotted government land for a song under the Roshni Act, and also encroachers of forest land. This is what the administration started doing two days ago. There is no politics in it. This is only compliance of the high court directions.
The recently notified new land ownership rules for J&K, allowing outsiders to buy land, have evoked strong reactions in both Jammu and the Valley...
The land laws of J&K were antiquated, and some of the clauses were contradictory. The new law is progressive and has adequate safeguards. About 90% of J&K land is agricultural and can be bought only by an agriculturist who will not be from Punjab or Haryana, but only J&K. So, 90% is fully secure. About 5% to 6% is government land, and gone are the days when someone could occupy that.
We have opened up the land to set up industrial clusters, private educational and health institutions. J&K has lagged in that. That is all that has changed on land laws. We have identified 3,000 acres and initiated the process of acquisition. The new land law is for the betterment of the people of J&K who have been given the same safeguards as those in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Are you open to recommending the restoration of statehood ?
The Prime Minister has told the nation that this is a temporary phase. The home minister said in Parliament that the statehood will be restored. So people should trust what he has said. Definitely, people will get statehood in the near future.
What is your road map for the economic revival of J&K?
The economy of this place has suffered for a long time. After consultations with all stakeholders, a ₹1,375crore package was sanctioned for local business and industry, which have also been granted 50% concession on electricity and water charges for a year. Several administrative reforms have been implemented. A new industrial policy is expected to get the Union cabinet’s sanction anytime soon. That, I am confident, will get J&K private investments of ₹30,000 crore in two or three years. It will boost the economic revival and create employment avenues.