Kashmir being demonised in Delhi: J&K governor

Known for making controversial statements, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Friday rued that the state was being demonised at the national level.

“It’s very unfortunate that Kashmir is being demonised in Delhi. A death in Kashmir becomes national headlines but I come from a village where local mortuary sends five to ten dead bodies daily and it doesn’t even find any mention in the city’s newspapers,” he said while speaking at an official function in Jammu.

Justifying his statement, the governor said, “We recruited more than 1,000 doctors in 40 days. Nine phased panchayat elections and four phased municipal elections were successfully held without any casualty and the vote percentage was almost similar to elections held in Punjab. But this positivity rarely appears in news.”

He said that Kashmir was being deliberately demonised and that no one talks about positive things happening in the state.
Malik said that youth of the state hold key to solution of Kashmir issue. “Young generation of state is very positive, talented and performing well in every field,” he said.

On Wednesday, Malik slammed a section of the country’s upper class for their lack of sensitivity towards the society and likened them to “rotten potatoes”.

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Malik is known for making controversial statements ever since he took over as the Governor of the restive Himalayan state in August. Last month Malik dropped a hint that he may be transferred from his post as his statements continue to create controversies in the state.

“As long as I’m here – it’s not in my hands – I don’t know when I will be transferred from here. I will not lose my job, but the threat of transfer is there,” he had said after making a statement that had he listened to the Centre, then Peoples Conference (PC) leader Sajad Lone would have been chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.