“What happens after delimitation, whether polls first or statehood, is a million-dollar question”

Situated atop a hill in Srinagar, the Raj Bhavan commands a spectacular view of the Dal Lake and the surrounding mountain ranges. But given the constant state of turbulence afflicting Jammu and Kashmir, its occupants rarely get time to soak in the view. Manoj Sinha is no exception. Appointed as Lieutenant Governor last August, the second after the reorganisation of J&K into a Union territory on August 5, 2019, Sinha has had his hands full from the get-go. The appointment of the 62-year-old veteran BJP leader from Uttar Pradesh, who was a former Union minister of state for railways and telecommunication, was a signal that the Narendra Modi government was keen on restoring the political process that had been breached after the abrogation of Article 370. Since then, Sinha can take part of the credit for kickstarting the political dialogue when the prime minister invited Kashmiri leaders—many of whom had been detained and vilified by the ruling dispensation—for a heart-to-heart chat on June 24 and to involve them in what seems to be a long march towards restoration of statehood in J&K.Now comes the tough task of successfully conducting a delimitation exercise and then an assembly election. Meanwhile, J&K needs urgent development and employment for its restless youth. Despite the big promises of transforming the Union territory into an industrial hub, there is not much to show. In a detailed interview with Group Editorial Director (Publishing) Raj Chengappa, Lieutenant Governor Sinha discusses the contentious issues and his commitments to bring rapid progress and peace to the Valley. Excerpts:

- Manoj Sinha

Q. After Prime minister Narendra Modi's June 24 meeting with leaders of J&K, the political process has started. What has been the outcome?

A. The political process shouldn’t be linked to the prime minister’s meeting alone. It had been in the works. When I was given this responsibility and I went to meet the PM, he told me a few important things. First, that dialogue should continue and second, urgent steps should be taken to strengthen grassroots democracy in J&K. So, we had already started that process. Three-tier panchayati raj institutions were set up here after a long time, and free, fair, transparent and violence-free elections were held. In districts that used to see 5-7 per cent voting, the youth and women participated with a lot of enthusiasm. Then, district development councils (DDCs) were formed in 20 districts. The all-party meeting with the prime minister was held in a cordial atmosphere. Well begun is half done.

“JAMMU AND KASHMIR IS ON THE PATH OF PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT, MOVING TOWARDS THE MAINSTREAM. THE ALL PARTY MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER WAS CORDIAL. WELL BEGUN IS HALF DONE”

Q. Opposition leaders are asking why delimitation is being held first, then elections and then statehood?