The people have elected a chief minister and government to look after their security, among other things, but the chief minister has no authority, senior Congress leaader P. Chidambaram said asserting that the immediate restoration of full statehood to J-K is imperative.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram has called for the immediate restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). He emphasised that the current Union Territory (UT) status limits the authority of the region’s elected representatives.
Chidambaram highlighted the fact that while J&K has a Chief Minister and government in place, they lack real power, especially in security matters. This, he argues, goes against the purpose of democratic elections, where the people expect their government to protect their interests and ensure security.
A day after Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha held a security review meeting, former union minister P Chidambaram on Thursday said people have elected a chief minister and government to look after their security but the CM has no authority.
Chidambaram also asserted that the immediate restoration of full statehood to J-K is imperative, reports PTI.
In a post on X, the former union minister said the photograph of the LG of Jammu and Kashmir presiding over a meeting to review the law and order situation in J-K is telling.
“The elected chief minister is not present. Whether he was invited or not, I do not know. Under the law applicable to J&K, police and public order are subjects reserved for the LG,” Chidambaram said.
The people have elected a chief minister and government to look after their security, among other things, but the chief minister has no authority, he said.
This is why J-K is described as half a state, Chidambaram added.
Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha on Wednesday directed for a security audit of infrastructure projects, round-the-clock nakas at strategic points, and night patrolling and area domination in the Valley.
Sinha passed these directions during a security review for the Kashmir division in a meeting at Raj Bhawan in Srinagar.
The meeting came against the backdrop of the deadly terror attack on construction workers at a tunnel in the Gagangir area of Ganderbal district on Sunday. Seven persons — a local doctor and six non-local labourers — were killed in the attack claimed by the TRF, a shadow outfit of Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, Principal Secretary Home Department Chandraker Bharti and Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order) Vijay Kumar and other senior officials of J-K Police attended the meeting.
The LG asked J-K Police officials to take stringent measures to tighten the security grid around key infrastructure projects and construction camps for the safety of workers. He stressed upon establishment of mechanisms for regular coordination meetings with project implementing agencies.
Chidambaram’s statement comes amid concerns about the central government’s control over J&K since its reorganisation in 2019, when Article 370 was abrogated, and the region was divided into two UTs—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
The abrogation of Article 370 had stripped J&K of its special status and autonomy, leading to widespread discontent. The senior Congress leader also pointed out the growing demand among J&K’s residents for the return of statehood, stressing that delaying this move could hinder democratic processes and deepen the disconnect between the people and the central government. He also urged other political leaders and parties to support this cause for the greater good of J&K’s future. — (with inputs from PTI)