Congress says Satya Pal Malik's 'meritorious' services not required

A day after former Jammu-Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik had been transferred to Goa, Congress Spokesperson Manish Tewari, on Saturday has slammed the governor's role in the bifurcation of the state into 2 Union Territories. He mocked the former J&K governor saying that his 'meritorious' services were no longer required. He added that Malik has been sent on rest &recreation to goa.

Congress mocks Satya Pal Malik's transfer

READ | J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik transferred; appointed as Governor of Goa​​​​​​

Satya Pal Malik transferred

Earlier on Thursday, mere days before the official bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories, namely Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh, J&K governor Satya Pal Malik had been transferred to Goa. Additionally, Girish Chandra Murmu had been appointed as the lieutenant governor of Jammu Kashmir and Radha Krishna Mathur as lieutenant governor of Ladakh. Apart from these above-mentioned officers, P.S. Sreedharan Pillai had been appointed as Governor of Mizoram.

WATCH | Kulgam school torched by terrorists days before J&K's bifurcation

Prep for Bifurcation day

Meanwhile, the state is preparing for the official day of bifurcation on October 31. The J&K government has invited all administrative secretaries to the 'appointed day' while directing all the secretaries to not move out of the state during the transit period October-November 2019. Meanwhile, on October 17, the Jammu-Kashmir administration had abolished 36 member State Legislative Council. The current composition of the Legislative Council had 10 members from BJP, 8 from PDP, 3 from NC and the 1 from Congress, whereas 14 seats were vacant.

READ | J&K sends invites for Oct 31; UTs Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh to be formed

Current situation of Kashmir

Meanwhile, the Centre has stated that the situation in Kashmir is slowly being restored back to normalcy. Sources report that in Anantnag there has been almost 50% vehicular movement as per usual. Sources also report that 10-20% of the shops in the district have been opened. While traffic has been seen increasing in the Valley, public transport is still not functional, as informed by authorities. While landline connections have been restored completely, internet and cell connections too have been restored to most parts of the Valley, according to Kashmir administration. Postpaid connections too have been restored in the Valley. Schools have also opened in the Valley and attendance has been gradually rising. The state administration has been giving regular reports about medical facilities functional in the Valley.

READ: Governor position weak, can't speak heart out: J&K Guv Satya Pal Malik

Parliament revoked Article 370 and 35 A

The government had revoked Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and proposed that the state be bifurcated into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The Jammu & Kashmir (Reorganisation) Bill, 2019, which strips Jammu and Kashmir's status of a state and converts it into a Union Territory with the legislature and carving out Ladakh region as a UT without legislature. It was passed in a division pressed by the opposition with 125 votes in favor and 61 against, and an NCP member abstained in the Rajya Sabha. It was then passed by a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha on the next day, making it law.