'Betrayal of J&K continues': Cong slams Centre

New Delhi/Srinagar, NT Bureau: The Congress Saturday termed the Centre’s notification giving the lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir more power over the police and the civil services a “betrayal” of the people of the Union Territory (UT) and “murder” of the Constitution of India.

In a statement, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the amendments made to the Transaction of Business Rules imply that the Union government is delaying the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, which was downgraded to a UT in 2019.

Kharge added that even if Jammu and Kashmir regains the status of a full state, the amendments will effectively keep the state government at the “mercy” of the lieutenant governor.

“Another example of “Samvidhan Hatya Diwas” continuing daily under Modi Govt,” he posted on X.

On Friday, the Centre had declared 25 June — the date when Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency in 1975 — ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas’ (Murder of Constitution Day).

The notification issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs Friday significantly enhances the lieutenant governor’s control over matters relating to police, public order, the All India Services and the Anti-Corruption Bureau, much like the administrative model in Delhi, which is a UT with a legislative assembly