Newly appointed Jammu and Kashmir Governor, Satya Pal Malik, stated that protocol will stop him to reach to the people, politicians and political parties who share conflicting ideas among each other. Being the first politician — in over half a century — to become the head of the Valley, Malik stated that he is not interested in politicking.
After meeting President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital on Monday, Malik, as quoted by The Hindu, said, “I will be inviting leaders of political parties to meet with me and if anyone feels uncomfortable to come to me, I will go to them. Protocol will not stop me.” He added that he will reach to the people of the state, listen to their grievances and work for their welfare to sort out issues of concern.
Malik refrained to comment on the inclusion of Hurriyat Conference in the list of political parties, he wishes to meet. He said, as the daily quoted, “The dialogue at the level of the people is the most fundamental thing. It forms the basic foundation of any further dialogue, including high-level political dialogue.”
Speaking on his priorities, Malik added that his main concern, for now, is the peaceful conduct of panchayat polls. He said, as the daily quotes, “For this, in all likelihood, MLAs in the now suspended Jammu and Kashmir Assembly will be given access again to the Constituency Development Fund accruing to them. Officials have also been told not go for inauguration of projects etc. and allow elected representatives to participate in these programmes. These are just a few ways in which political activity will be boosted in the State, once MLAs and political activists get back to the ground.”
After taking charge of the office, Malik had issued instructions which state that district collectors should earmark at least one day in the week for public hearings and had also asked two centrally appointed advisors — B.B. Vyas and Vijay Kumar — to do the same.
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