National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah has strongly criticized the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) administration, under the direct control of New Delhi-appointed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, stating it is misleading the people of the territory on the issue of statehood and governance.
Farooq Abdullah’s remarks came in response to recent statements made by LG Sinha, who claimed that the lack of statehood should not be used as an excuse for underperformance, and asserted that the IIOJK government, led by Omar Abdullah, had sufficient powers to address public welfare and developmental needs. Farooq Abdullah dismissed these claims as far from the truth.
“He has never spoken the truth,” Farooq Abdullah said, responding to reporters’ questions in Srinagar. “He holds total control over the Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Administrative Service (IAS). Not a single file has been passed back under his authority.”
The NC president’s remarks come amid growing political debate surrounding the restoration of statehood to IIOJK, which was bifurcated into two Union Territories – J&K and Ladakh – following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
Earlier, during an event in Srinagar, LG Sinha had downplayed the significance of statehood, asserting that it could no longer be used as a justification for “underperformance.” He further added that there had been “unnecessary speculation” surrounding the restoration of statehood, despite what he described as clarity from the Indian government on the issue.
