JOIN USGovernor’s rule was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir with President Ram Nath Kovind giving his approval to Governor N N Vohra’s recommendation even as the government initiated a process to augment the Kashmir administration with the appointment of two advisors.
This is the eighth time that Governor’s Rule is being imposed in the troubled state in the last four decades. “The President has approved the imposition of Governor’s rule in J&K with immediate effect,” a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) spokesperson said.
Kovind, who is on a three-nation tour, signed the file after he reached Suriname. Vohra had forwarded his recommendation to the President through the MHA on Tuesday soon after the BJP withdrew support to PDP government.
Sources said the Governor’s report was immediately sent to Suriname where the President was scheduled to land at 6.30 pm (3 am IST). The file was returned to the MHA at around 6 am, which then initiated the process of promulgating Governor’s rule in the state. The MHA made public the announcement at around 7.45 am.
Two advisors — present Chief Secretary B B Vyas and former IPS officer Vijay Kumar, who recently retired as Senior Security Advisor to the Union Home Ministry — to the Governor were appointed to aid him in the administration of the volatile state.
Augmenting the Kashmir administration, senior IAS officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre B V R Subrahmanyam has been transferred to the Jammu and Kashmir government.
Subrahmanyam, who hails from Andhra Pradesh and is presently additional chief secretary (Home) in Chhattisgarh, was also appointed as the chief secretary to succeed Vyas, who was last month given a one-year extension in service.
The BJP had demanded Governor’s Rule in the state after accusing its former alliance partner of failing to arrest growing radicalisation, violence and discrimination of Jammu and Ladhak regions.
Under Governor’s rule, anti-militant operations are expected to get a boost. Sources said forces have been given specific instructions to hit hard at militants, especially in their strongholds in south Kashmir.
The security establishment is also gearing up for further confrontation at the borders as it anticipates ceasefire violations by Pakistan. “We will retaliate if Pakistan indulges any misadventure,” a senior official said.