NEW DELHI — Former Union Minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram criticized Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha on Thursday for holding a review meeting on the region’s security without Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
In a post on X, Chidambaram wrote, “The photograph of the LG of Jammu & Kashmir presiding over a meeting to review the law and order situation in J&K is telling… The elected chief minister is not present. Whether he was invited or not, I do not know.”
Describing J&K as half a state, he wrote, ” Under the law applicable to J&K, police and public order are subjects reserved for the LG. The people have elected a chief minister and government to look after their security, among other things, but the chief minister has no authority. This is why J&K is described as half a state The immediate restoration of full statehood to J&K is imperative.”
On October 16, Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier on Wednesday, LG Sinha held a review meeting in Srinagar at Raj Bhavan to review the security situation in Kashmir Division.
He directed the police to tighten security measures around key infrastructure projects and construction camps in the union territories.
“The police must ensure robust security and intelligence grid and intensified, well-planned joint operation with army and other security agencies to eliminate terrorism,” said the LG.
Multiple senior officers of the Police, J&K Principal Secretary of Home department and other civil administration officers attended the meeting.
The meeting was held after the militant attack in Gagangir in Ganderbal district, which killed seven people. — (ANI)