LG Manoj Sinha’s meet with Amit Shah and AK Bhalla in Delhi trigger speculations in Kashmir

Heavy troop movement in J&K as CAPF companies return from poll duty

The J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s conferences with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Home Secretary AK Bhalla in Delhi triggered speculations and rumors about attainable administrative and political adjustments within the Union Territory.

However, a senior official within the administration knew that the conferences with Shah and others have been a routine train. The LG met Shah and Bhalla to debate the bottom scenario within the UT and different common administrative work. The LG is returning to J&K on Monday morning.

Last week, as quickly as Sinha and another senior officers left the summer season capital of Srinagar for Delhi, rumors mills began churning theories concerning the intent behind the go to and conferences in New Delhi. Some locals even reminisced in regards to the occasions previous August 5, 2019 colligating these conferences with elevated motion of troops in Kashmir and a few components of Jammu division.

A senior National Conference chief Tanvir Sadiq put out a sarcastic tweet asking whether or not the politicians should be prepared for one more time period in detention like in 2019. “While rumors are flying thick and fast – should we be ready for the second semester? MLA’s hostel 2.0?” he mentioned.

The social media accounts and a few Whats App teams—which have prime administrative and police officers as its members—remained abuzz with theories and prophecies hinting that ‘something big’ is within the offing for J&K. A couple of rumors hinted at granting of statehood to Jammu division, some others mentioned {that a} third administrative division could be carved between the 2 divisions of Kashmir and Jammu, whereas as others mentioned that troops are merely despatched to LoC and LAC in Ladakh as reinforcement.

A younger congress chief from Jammu division, Salman Nizami, additionally put out a tweet reacting to the rumor of granting of statehood to Jammu.

“The GoI must restore statehood of the entire J&K and hold elections at an earliest after Covid situation is better. Any attempt to stoke polarization by granting statehood to one province & not another is not going to work!” mentioned Nizami.

However, one other senior official in New Delhi mentioned that the Amarnath Yatra—for which the registration was suspended earlier this 12 months in wake of the second wave of Covid19 pandemic—was mentioned as the ultimate resolution concerning the cancellation or conduct of Yatra this 12 months is but to be made public. The Yatra is scheduled from the final week of June until August 22 and the administration had made preparations for round six lakh devotees. The problem of safety of the Block Development Council, District Development Council and Panchayat members after the current killing of BJP councilor Rakesh Pandita in Tral of southern Kashmir was additionally mentioned within the assembly. The progress on the delimitation fee was reviewed as effectively.

Interestingly, amongst different senior officers, each outgoing chief secretary of J&K, BVR Subrahmanyam, and present chief secretary of the J&K A K Mehta has been a part of the conferences. Subrahmanyam’s switch had additionally triggered speculations of cracks throughout the administrative setup of the J&K. “He was staying just to clean up his office and prepare for the next assignment. There was no tussle of power or bureaucratic hegemony,” a senior official clarified.

The LG, sources mentioned, additionally mentioned attainable alternative of Director General of J&K police Dilbagh Singh– who was additionally a part of the assembly with Shah. The names of possible contenders for the put-up have been talked about in one of many conferences as effectively.

Meanwhile, For a week now, Kashmir has been witnessing heavy movement of troops. An official said these are troops returning after election duties in four states and a Union Territory. Officials said around 300 companies of troops, especially the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), had left the Valley on election duties.So far, 70 of them have returned while others are on their way back.

“It’s nothing unusual. Approximately 300 of Central Armed Police Forces had moved out of our security grid for the recent assembly elections . So far, only 70 companies have returned,” said a senior police officer who is privy to details and oversees the security grid in Kashmir.

The unusual movement of troops, especially in north Kashmir, has led to speculation that the Centre may be planning a move similar to that of August 5, 2019, when Article 370 giving special status to J&K was nullified and the state divided into two Union Territories.

Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference chairman Sajjad Lone said, “We want to believe even in rumours rumoured to be rumours. We love rumours, don’t we? Last few days have been all about rumours and conspiracies. They say don’t believe a rumour to b true until govt actually denies it,” he tweeted.

National Conference leader Tanveer Sadiq, who was also the political advisor of former J&K chief secretary, also raised concerns about the rumours, wondering if mainstream leaders could again be arrested and lodged in MLA hostel. “While rumours are flying thick and fast — should we be ready for second semester? MLA’s hostel 2.0?,” he tweeted.

Senior BJP leader and former legislator Sofi Yousuf rubbished rumors that J&K will be further bifurcated. “Once things are normal, J&K will get back its statehood. These are rumors that J&K will see further division,” he said.