“The argument that law and order is with the Lt Governor does not mean that office of the Chief Minister is not concerned with the stability of peace and security in Jammu & Kashmir.”
The recent attacks on Sunday Market one of the most busiest commercial places in Srinagar at weekends is the cause of fear developing in the aftermath of an attack on migrant workers at a construction project site at Ganderbal followed by an attack on a sitting National Conference MLA in Gurez and finally the recent grenade attack in Sunday market in Srinagar. The fresh spurt in attacks has though brought under stress the economic activities and consequently the livelihoods of people affiliated with the hotel and tourist industry in Kashmir Valley but the situation is still under the control. In the given situation what deserves and demands the attention and intervention of the top functionaries of the Jammu & Kashmir Government is fear for lives developing among the people in Kashmir valley perhaps for the first time in last six years. Undoubtedly the Lt Governor led administration did a commendable job in restoring peace and order for the first time in last more than three decades in Jammu & Kashmir but with the takeover by a popular Government under the leadership of Omar Abdullah the situation demands that both the offices of Lt Governor and as well as the Chief collectively share their responsibilities in maintaining peace and order in Jammu & Kashmir. The argument that law and order is with the Lt Governor does not mean that office of the Chief Minister is not concerned with the stability of peace and security in Jammu & Kashmir. Not the power and authority the Lt Governor and the Chief Minister exercise as per law but the responses they collectively show in matters related to both security and as well as Governance matters the most.
“Be it the case of the security of any public functionary say a political leader, a bureaucrat , the security men guarding the Government projects and vital installations or the common people the Government is duty bound to take care of the life and property of one and all irrespective of the positions they hold in Government. Ultimately when it comes to stablising the security environment in Jammu & Kashmir the collective response of the Government to the situation matters the most and same holds good for the authorities occupying key positions in the offices of both the Lt Governor and as well as the Chief Minister.”
While the Lt Governor did not waste even a second in responding to the attack on Sunday market in Srinagar by directing the DGP and heads of other law enforcement agencies to show a forceful response against the perpetrators of the attack, the Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister on the directions of Chief Minister immediately reached the SMHS hospital Srinagar and directed best possible treatment to the injured civilians. Unfortunately in the process the Government did not take congnizance of the attack on a sitting MLA in Gurez and even the Chief Minister to whose party the MLA belongs did not respond. A call from Chief Minister’s office to District SP could have atleast given the concerned MLA sense of security. Be it the case of the security of any public functionary say a political leader, a bureaucrat , the security men guarding the Government projects and vital installations or the common people the Government is duty bound to take care of the life and property of one and all irrespective of the positions they hold in Government. Ultimately when it comes to stablising the security environment in Jammu & Kashmir the collective response of the Government to the situation matters the most and same holds good for the authorities occupying key positions in the offices of both the Lt Governor and as well as the Chief Minister.
