BJP-PDP end alliance in Jammu and Kashmir updates: Worsening law and order main reason for collapse, says saffron party

NN Vohra cancels all orders issued by state govt on last day

Hours after taking over the reins of the state of Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra cancelled all the orders issued by the government departments on the last day (19 June) including the release of funds to be kept in abeyance. Reports said Vohra directed authorities that issue of SSA Teachers, who have been protesting from last few months on the streets, would be resolved immediately and the SRO-43 cases to be expedited. The reports also said regularisation of Casual Workers/Daily Rated Workers etc to be expedited under SRO-520.

The meeting was called by Vohra, who is ruling the State fourth timer since his appointment in 2008, after the President of India placed Jammu and Kashmir under Governor’s rule after the BJP withdrew support to its alliance partner PDP, prompting Mehbooba Mufti to resign as the chief minister.

Omar Abdullah calls for stabilisation of situation in the state, lesser human rights violation 

Video courtesy: Sameer Yasir

Omar Abdullah denies reports of him meeting PDP MLAs after talks with his party leaders

Video courtesy: Sameer Yasir

Imposition of Governor’s Rule in J&K will not interrupt anti-terrorist operations: Army chief General Bipin Rawat

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said that the imposition of Governor's Rule in Jammu and Kashmir will not interrupt the operations against terrorists

Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/RdkPU5lEK6 pic.twitter.com/sWdv4soZNf

— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) June 20, 2018

Watch: BJP senior leader and member of Jammu and Kashmir legislative council Ramesh Arora talks to Firstpost

Video courtesy: Sameer Yasir

Jammu and Kashmir Gazette conveys the news of BJP ending alliance with PDP

Image courtesy: Sameer Yasir

Senior PDP leader Khurshid Alam says Mehbooba Mufti’s ‘strong stand’ made BJP reconsider the alliance

Day after Mehbooba Mufti tendered her resignation over the split of the BJP-PDP in Jammu and Kashmir, senior PDP leader Khurshid Alam slammed the saffron party. “Mehbooba Mufti took a strong stand for the government. That stand compelled the BJP and Government of India to reconsider their support,” he told Firstpost.

“BJP wanted to compromise (on various issues). Look at Mufti’s stand in Rasana issue (Kathua rape). Mufti was the only hurdle in Centre’s wishes like changing Article 370, erasing Article 35-A. This strong stand forced the BJP to pull out of alliance,” he said.

General Bikram Singh and Indian Army chief Bipin Rawat differ on BJP-PDP alliance’s end

Two important army officials have publicly shared different views on the current political situation in Jammu and Kashmir. According to former chief of army staff General Bikram Singh, the BJP breaking up with PDP will have a direct impact on the security situation on the ground. However, Indian Army chief Bipin Rawat said that the imposition of Governor’s Rule will not affect the operations.

BJP-PDP alliance was compulsion of the moment, says Ram Madhav

Day after the BJP pulled out from the alliance with PDP in Jammu and Kashmir, BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav said that there was nothing opportunistic about leaving the alliance. “It was not an opportunistic alliance. (Mehbooba) Mufti described it as the coming together of the North and South poles… We tried our best to maintain this alliance and ensure that the government lasts its full term,” he said in an interview to CNN-News18 .

“I myself put in a lot of effort… but some alliances work and some don’t,” he added_._ Mufti had become the chief minister after her father and the death of the then chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

He claimed that the policemen and journalists were “being killed” in the Valley because of Mehbooba Mufti government’s “soft approach”. “We don’t want that soft approach,” he said.

Visuals from NN Vohra’s meeting with senior officials in Srinagar

#JammuAndKashmir: Governor of Jammu & Kashmir NN Vohra holds a meeting with senior administration officers & security forces in Srinagar. pic.twitter.com/lXxV1eZEXu

— ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2018

Rajnath Singh, PDP’s most-trusted BJP leader, left out of alliance-breaking talks

On Monday evening, when Jammu and Kashmir’s BJP leaders and MLAs were asked to report to New Delhi between 7.30 and 7.45 am on Tuesday — and advised accordingly to book early morning flights to the National Capital — for a meeting with the party high command, they had little idea as to what was transpiring and were only told that the party leadership wanted to discuss strategy ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

But what has surprised many in the Valley is a newspaper report stating that the two most important people when it comes to Kashmir — Home Minister Rajnath Singh and the Centre’s special representative to Jammu and Kashmir Dineshwar Sharma — were kept in the dark about the party’s decision to pull out of its alliance in the state.

PDP office in Srinagar wears a deserted look, day after Mehbooba Mufti resigned as CM

Image courtesy: Sameer Yasir/Firstpost

SP Vaid says it would be much easier to work under Governor’s Rule

With Jammu and Kashmir under Governor’s Rule, top cop SP Vaid expects it to be “much easier” to conduct anti-terror. “Operations will continue. Only thing was in between, during this (ceasefire) period, the operations were stopped. They were going on earlier also, but we will intensify these operations in the days to come. And it would be, I think, much easier to work,” Vaid was quoted as saying by  NDTV .

NN Vohra holds talks with chief secretary, other senior officials in Jammu and Kashmir

Immediately after receiving president’s approval, Governor NN Vohra issued the proclamation to impose Governor’s Rule in the State under Section 92 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, said an official statement.

Governor NN Vohra held discussions with Chief Secretary BB Vyas on Wednesday and identified the major tasks which shall require to be dealt with on a strict time bound basis, beginning from Wednesday, a spokesperson said.

“To gear up the state administrative machinery to function with speed, efficiency, and accountability, the governor is speaking to senior officers of the civil, police, forest and other departments on Wednesday. This meeting shall be followed by a security review meeting at the Raj Bhavan in the afternoon,” the spokesman said.

Jammu and Kashmir State Commission for Women chairperson resigns

Nayeema Ahmad Mahjoor Wednesday resigned from her post of Chairperson of Jammu and Kashmir State Commission for Women.

Taking to Twitter, Nayeema wrote: “I am now free woman… freedom at last…”. The development came a day after BJP pulled out of the coalition with PDP and paved way for the Governor’s Rule.

I have resigned from the post of chairperson, jk state commission for women early morning. I am now free woman... freedom at last.....

— Nayeema Mehjoor (@nayeema1) June 20, 2018

Omar Abdullah chairs key National Conference meet in Srinagar

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah is currently chairing an important meeting in Srinagar with party leaders, according to reports. Abdullah had said on Tuesday that the election in Jammu and Kashmir should be held at the earliest after the resignation of chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.

Jammu and Kashmir BJP workers told to prep for November polls

According to India Today, ​BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav has told BJP workers in Jammu and Kashmir to prepare for November election in state. This comes hours after Governor’s Rule was imposed in state following Mehbooba Mufti’s resignation as the chief minister.

BJP to honour Syama Prasad Mukherjee on 23 June at 4 pm

“On 23 June, we will honour SP Mukherjee in Jammu,” Jammu and Kashmir BJP MLA Ravinder Raina said during a press conference. “We aim to strengthen the nationalism which received a boost in the Valley because of Mukherjee,” he said.

BVR Subrahmanyam could become key advisors of Jammu and Kashmir governor

According to reports, BVR Subrahmanyam — the Chhattisgarh additional chief secretary who has been transferred to Jammu and Kashmir — is likely to be one of the key advisors of Governor NN Vohra.  He had joined the PMO as private secretary under former prime minister Manmohan Singh.

IAS officer BVR Subrahmanyam transferred to Jammu and Kashmir

The central government has transferred BVR Subrahmanyam to Jammu and Kashmir, just hours after President Ram Nath Kovind approved the imposition of Governor’s Rule in the state.

Subrahmanyam was transferred to Jammu and Kashmir upon the recommendations of the Appointment Committee of the Union Cabinet. According to media reports, the IAS officer of the 1987 cadre is likely to take up role of chief secretary in Jammu and Kashmir, however, there is no official release to indicate exactly what role he will be playing.

Governor Vohra to address security forces, senior administration officials at 11.45 am in Srinagar

No new govt will be formed anytume soon: Kavinder Gupta

“I don’t think a new government will be formed anytime soon. Uncertainties are there, but we are working on something and people will get to know about it,” said former deputy chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Kavinder Gupta. 

I don't think a new govt will be formed anytime soon. Uncertainties are there, but we are working on something & people will get to know about it: Kavinder Gupta, Former Deputy CM of #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/F0GerQiExZ

— ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2018

BVR Subrahmanyam posted to Jammu and Kashmir

The Appointments Committe of the Cabinet reassigned Additional Chief Secretary (Home) in Chattisgarh government BVR Subrahmanyam has been posted to Jammu and Kashmir as the state goes under Governor’s rule.

RECAP: Governor Vohra sent his report to Kovind after consultation with BJP, PDP leaders and Omar Abdullah

Governor Vohra received a letter by fax, jointly signed by state BJP president Ravinder Raina and BJP legislature party leader Kavinder Gupta to withdraw BJP’s support to the coalition government. Thereafter, Mehbooba Mufti tendered her resignation as the chief minister. The Governor asked her to continue in office till alternative arrangements were made, a spokesperson told Firstpost.

Later, Governor had a meeting with Omar Abdullah, who stated that there was no alternative to Governor’s Rule and elections. After concluding his consultations with all the major political parties, the governor forwarded his report to the President for the imposition of Governor’s Rule under Section 92 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mehbooba admits to apprehensions regarding Article 370’s future

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said the “biggest apprehension” for the people of of the Valley was about the status of Article 370 which guarantees special status to the state. “We defended Article 35-A and Article 370 in the court,” she said.

— PTI

Successful anti-terror measures by Centre had political costs for Mehbooba

The BJP, both at the state and central levels, did not falter on the basic principles of effective governance, as is evidenced by successful counter-terrorism operations and raids by NIA. The political cost did not stop BJP from forming the government in the first place. The central leadership of the BJP made it clear at that time that there could be a government through an alliance between opposing ideologies, as long as the promise of good governance is preserved.

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Why Governor Vohra may get an extension despite not being keen on it

Vohra is reluctant to continue as governor after his term ends. However, officials in the state administration want him to continue, since they have worked with him for a long time and know his style of functioning and administration. Moreover, New Delhi would also want to avoid appointing a fresh face in the state because it could disrupt the smooth functioning of the administration.

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Not shocked, as this alliance was never for power: Mehbooba

The Bharatiya Janata Party ended the three-year-old uneasy alliance with Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP in Jammu and Kashmir citing rising security concerns. PDP chief and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti, however, raised the bogey of Article 370 and unilateral ceasefire, saying muscular security policy will not work in the state and reconciliation is the key.

“I am not shocked as this alliance was never for power. PDP never believes in power politics and we worked for the people,” she told reporters after an hour-long meeting with her ministers and party workers at her residence.

Governor’s Rule imposed in Jammu and Kashmir with immediate effect

President Ram Nath Kovind has given his approval for the imposition of Governor’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir with immediate effect, sources from home ministry said.