The tussle has often affected Centre-state relations, but when it happens in a sensitive state like Jammu and Kashmir, the effect on governance can be serious. When Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed stayed away from a high-level security review meeting of Unified Headquarters here called by visiting Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, it was a direct fallout of his power struggle with the Governor, Gen (Retd) S K Sinha. Mufti — who heads Unified Headquarters, J-K’s security and counter-insurgency grid that includes the Army, BSF, CRPF, ITBP, J&K Police and various intelligence agencies — is, according to sources, upset with the Union Home Ministry’s support to Raj Bhawan, which he thinks is interfering in the issues of governance, especially security. Although both Mufti and Governor Sinha publicly deny any rift, it’s well known that they don’t see eye to eye. The pro-active Sinha first rattled Mufti when soon after taking over as Governor, he started going to the districts, holding meetings with officials and reviewing developmental projects. Then came the very public disagreement over the duration of Amarnath Yatra last year. The Governor, who is Chairman of the Amarnath Shrine Board, wanted the Yatra to be extended to two months but Mufti wasn’t inclined. He cited the burden on security and the state machinery, besides the weather, to argue that the traditional one-month duration for the pilgrimage was enough. The issue threatened to assume a communal dimension as the Congress leadership as well as Mufti’s ministerial colleagues from Jammu, along with the BJP and various Hindu organisations, openly supported the Governor. In fact, four ministers even resigned from the cabinet on the issue. However, the Centre’s intervention defused the crisis. The bitterness, however, didn’t go away. ‘‘Ever since Sinha took over, he has created a parallel power centre here,’’ a source close to Mufti complained. ‘‘And the Centre is supporting it by its constant silence. This has serious political ramifications here. ‘‘The state government is responsible for almost all the facilities extended to the Amarnath pilgrims but the Governor tries to dictate terms. He ignores the elected government on every issue.’’ The latest issue to turn controversial was the transfer of 3642 kanals of forest land in the custody of the Amarnath Shrine Board around the holy cave. The then Principal Secretary, Forests, Sonali Kumar — who had issued the order for the transfer in March, 2005 — was slapped with a showcause notice this month by the general administration department, seeking an explanation for ‘‘violating rules’’. The transfer, said the notice, needed to adhere to the Forest Conservation Act and needed prior cabinet approval. Interestingly, Sonali Kumar is the wife of the Principal Secretary to Governor and CEO, Amarnath Shrine Board, Arun Kumar. Another sore point has been the commercial helicopter service for the pilgrims. The J-K Tourism Corporation was using state helicopters for this but the shrine board termed it interference in its work of pilgrim management. It wanted to rope in private companies. The issue was taken to the high court — when one Ram Pal Bathonia filed a case against the Mufti government. The Court asked the government not to object. There has been no dearth of issues. The Mufti granted an extension to the then Vice Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences, Hashamtullah Khan, which was promptly turned down by the Governor, who is Chancellor of the University. The Chief Minister has also not taken kindly to what he perceives as the Governor’s attempt to steal the limelight on various occasions. Sources said during the snow crisis early this year, Sinha accompanied an Indian Air Force plane carrying vegetables much before the Chief Minister could get his act together, showing the ‘‘elected government in bad light’’. Now, by staying away from the security review meeting despite being in Srinagar, the Chief Minister has sent out a message, and political circles will be waiting for his next move.
