Jammu, Apr 4, : Defending the recent transfer of 48 middle-rung bureaucrats by Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Leader of Opposition and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma on Friday lashed out at the National Conference (NC) government for questioning the move, asserting that it falls within the LG’s legal authority.
The transfers, made four days ago, have sparked a fresh confrontation between the Raj Bhavan and the J&K government, which sees them as a breach of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act. However, Sharma clarified that under the Act, which has been in force since October 2019, all transfers related to law and order come under the LG’s jurisdiction.
“The LG has acted well within his legal authority. These are routine administrative decisions,” Sharma stated while responding to questions about Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s decision to convene a meeting over the issue.
Accusing the NC of treating J&K as its “personal fiefdom” for decades, Sharma remarked that the party must accept that J&K is now a Union Territory governed like Delhi and Puducherry. He further noted that the chief minister and ministers also carry out transfers within their respective departments, including appointing officials such as principals and lecturers.
Criticizing the NC government’s performance, Sharma accused it of failing to deliver on electoral promises. “They promised 200 units of free electricity, but where is it? Their ration scheme is for only two years, yet they claim it will last five,” he said.
He also questioned the real intent behind NC’s demand for the restoration of statehood, alleging that it was more about controlling bureaucratic appointments and industries than public welfare. “People need to understand whether this demand is for the benefit of the state or for consolidating personal power,” he added.
Condemning the alleged manhandling of former minister Harsh Dev Singh at Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary’s residence, Sharma termed it a sign of the ruling party’s “frustration.”
Meanwhile, J&K BJP chief Sat Pal Sharma, also present at the press conference, announced that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Jammu and Kashmir for three days starting April 6 to review the security situation and chair high-level meetings.
He also praised the BJP government for the successful passage of the Waqf Bill in Parliament.
