‘We took a calculated risk to hold the local body elections in J&K’

No government formation will take place through underhand means, there will be elections; whoever wins will be sworn to power, says Governor
Ahead of the local body elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Governor Satya Pal Malliksays the Congress had rigged earlier polls, leading to alienation of the youth. Asserting that no innocent person will be harassed by the police, Mr. Mallik says youth are being misled by moulvis (religious preachers).
What is the crux of the Kashmir problem ?
The problem in Kashmir is not that of the political parties… Hurriyat is also not a problem as they have lost credibility among the people; because of Pakistan they don’t want to participate in dialogue. The youth in the 13-20 age group are being targeted by the terrorists. Moulvis (religious preachers), who operate on foreign money, are the ones who mislead them.
What is the State’s policy towards the youth?
I independently engaged some NGOs to analyse the reasons for the frustration and alienation among the youth. I got the feedback that the reason for the frustration in 46% of youth who are in the 13-20 age group is that they do not have anything to do after 6 p.m. There are no cinema halls, no coffee shops… I met IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla and suggested that J&K should also have a separate team… you cannot win them over by arguments, you cannot argue with them on Islam, it increases the fanaticism… Nowhere in the world now can a new country be born, look at LTTE, even they couldn’t seize power in Sri Lanka… [The youth should] get into IAS, get into IPS, rule India!
How can the political alienation among the youth be addressed?
This problem erupted after the Congress rigged two elections.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I can assure that there will be no such thing … No government formation will take place through underhand means. There will be elections; whoever wins will be sworn to power. The real trouble began in Kashmir when they dislodged elected governments … that will not be repeated.
What about the possibility of government formation in J&K since the Assembly has not been dissolved?
I want to promise that we will not form a government by underhand means. Proper elections will be held.
Those born in the Kashmir Valley post-1990 have mostly lived under the shadow of the gun? How do you address their grievances?
I told my DGP on the very first day that no innocent should be harassed and called to the police station, until and unless there is something substantial against him. You [police] will not extort money from them, and if I get a complaint, then action will be taken against the SHO as well as the DSP. They [youth] are threatened that they will be framed in stone-throwing incidents, this kind of harassment is there. This should stop. They should be given cricket balls instead of stones.
Several policemen have been killed this year…
We have increased the compensation amount from Rs. 40 lakh to Rs. 70 lakh. [I am] trying to increase it to Rs. 1 crore. The children of policemen will get free education. We are developing a separate colony for policemen in safe areas, where the families can stay. The policemen who go home are killed… [Hence] we are making guest houses in police lines so that families can come and visit them there. So they [policemen] don’t have to go to the mohalla (locality); if they go, they will go with security. Hardship allowance will also be increased.
Don’t you think you are segregating them?
Even now we have separate colonies where officers live, so why not for policemen? Everywhere there are separate police colonies. It will not hamper the work of intelligence gathering.
What about the special police officers (SPO)?
We are increasing the salary of SPOs from Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 16,000. The compensation to SPOs who are killed on duty has been doubled. Of the total SPOs, around 5% were inducted in the regular police force — this has been doubled. People are queuing up to join as SPOs.
But many videos have surfaced with SPOs saying they were quitting after the threat by Hizbul Mujahideen warning policemen to resign?
The videos are of SPOs who had surpassed the age to be recruited in the police. No policeman or SPO has resigned. There has been a series of abductions of kin of policemen. Hizbul commander Riyaz Naikoo’s father was also detained by the police.
What is the compulsion to hold the panchayat polls right now?
You must be aware of the Prime Minister’s August 15 speech from Red Fort… he got a feedback that the wheels of democracy should be set in [motion]. If you cannot hold panchayat elections, then how will parliamentary elections be possible? Then we took a calculated risk to hold the elections. I met the leaders of all political parties — they say something in person and their public posturing is different.
How do you ensure that people come out and vote in wake of the killings of policemen? That elections are held in free and fair manner?
Of course people will come out and vote. Farooq Abdullah was elected on 7% vote percentage, we would get much higher votes… The problem of J&K arose from rigging of polls. We will never do this.
What about security for the candidates?
We are giving Rs. 10 lakh insurance cover to every candidate in panchayats. We will provide them personal security and if they don’t want to live at their house we will give them a safe place to stay during elections.
Former DGP S.P Vaid said the condition is not conducive to hold elections?
It’s a rumour. He was part of the decision-making and joint assessment.
Why was he removed? You shunted him to an obscure position?
He was not removed for any particular reason, it was on the cards for long. I can ask — why was he appointed? One who is appointed is also removed. We want to give him a good posting but the post that he wanted, the procedure for it was a lengthy one.
What is your stand on Article 35A that has been challenged in the Supreme Court?
We are not elected representatives. We don’t disrespect the mandate of the State government. When an elected government is in place, it can take a stand in court and till then no hearing should take place. Neither the Prime Minister has gone to the court against 35A nor I (Governor’s office), an individual, has gone. The plea has been rejected twice in the past by the SC.
What is the progress in the Kathua gangrape case?
It shouldn’t have been politicised. The gruesome incident should be investigated properly. Those guilty should be punished.
Source :  https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/we-took-a-calculated-risk-to-hold-the-local-body-elections-in-jk/article25023816.ece

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