The News Craving
Srinagar:
Former Union Minister P. Chidambaram has expressed concern over the absence of an elected Chief Minister in a law and order review meeting chaired by the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a post on X, Chidambaram commented on the situation, saying:
“The photograph of the LG of Jammu & Kashmir presiding over a law and order review meeting is revealing. The elected Chief Minister is notably absent. Whether or not the CM was invited, I am unaware,” Chidambaram said.
He further highlighted that under the current legal framework, control over police and public order rests with the LG, effectively sidelining the elected government.
“The people have chosen a Chief Minister and government to ensure their security and other concerns, yet the Chief Minister has no real authority. This is why Jammu and Kashmir is referred to as ‘half a state,'” he added.
Chidambaram reiterated his call for the immediate restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, stressing that the present governance arrangement diminishes the role of the elected government.
