Want President's rule to end, J&K elections at earliest: Guv

Directs release of C-DRW wages in Ramzan

SRINAGAR: Asserting that his administration is in favour of revocation of President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir, Governor Satya Pal Malik on Wednesday said he wants the elections of legislative assembly to be held as soon as possible, but the final call on the timing of polls will be taken by the Election Commission.
Governor also assured that annual Amarnath Yatra commencing from July 1 this year would be held with full-proof security.
Jammu and Kashmir was placed under Governor's Rule on June 19, 2018 after the PDP-BJP coalition government fell as the BJP decided to pull out of the alliance, followed by imposition of President’s rule on November 19 last year.
Governor, who was speaking to reporters after inaugurating the second phase of the Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh flyover, was asked about the possible dates of Assembly elections in the State.
“The election commission has to decide on it,” Malik said.
Asked if some officials within his administration were not keen on transfer of power to an elected government in the state, the governor said there was nothing like that in his notice.
"We want this (President's Rule) to end as soon as possible. The final call on holding assembly elections in the state will be taken by the Election Commission," Malik told reporters.
Recently, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also said a decision on holding assembly elections in the state was the prerogative of the Election Commission but indicated a decision could be announced after the completion of the Lok Sabha polls.
After June 19, the state assembly was kept in suspended animation to allow for the possibility of any new combination of parties to form a government in the state.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti supported by the National Conference and the Congress staked claim for government formation on 21 November, 2018. Within minutes, People's Conference chairman Sajad Lone, who had just two MLAs, also staked claim for government formation.
The governor decided to dissolve the assembly on the grounds that he wanted to prevent horse-trading.
The state was brought under President's Rule on December 19, 2018 for a period of six months as elections could not be held within six months of imposition of Governor's Rule in the state.
The President's Rule will have to be extended again on June 19, 2019 as assembly elections have not been held so far. The order for extending President's rule will have to be ratified by Parliament.
On Wednesday, Governor also said that the annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine will be taken under fullproof security.
“The last year’s yatra registered a great number of devotees visiting the State. We will not allow any untoward incident this year as well,” he said.
Malik also thanked people for their cooperation during the recently lifted civilian traffic ban on Jammu-Srinagar highway and also apologized for the inconvenience caused due to the ban.
“I apologise to the people for the inconvenience they had to face due to the highway restrictions but the ban was imposed in national interest. I also thank them for their cooperation,” Malik said.
The government had in April imposed a ban on the civilian movement on the national highway for two day a week after 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) men were killed in a blast on highway in Pulwama district in south Kashmir.
On Tuesday, the government lifted the ban completely on the civilian movement on the highway.
Meanwhile, Governor has directed release of last month’s pending wages and salaries to casual workers during the holy month of Ramzan.
The issue of pending wages of casual/daily rated workers and other categories of employees in certain departments was brought to the notice of the Governor during the meeting of the State Administrative Council (SAC) held today in Civil Secretariat, Srinagar.
“The Governor was informed that these workers have been put to hardship during the holy month of Ramzan,” an official handout said.
The Governor has directed the release of last month’s wages in respect of the casual/daily wagers and salaries of other categories of employees working in different departments who could not receive the same so far, it said.
The Governor has asked the Advisors to oversee that wages are released to these workers by their departments by 31 May. The Finance Department will issue necessary sanctions, wherever, required, it added.