Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor, now holding the gubernatorial post in Meghalaya, has leveled very serious allegations about a renowned corporate and ‘some RSS affiliated leader of the then State. For doing a favour, he says he was offered Rs 3oo crore. The charges against the corporate are no more secret as during his tenure here Malik had scrapped the deal to provide insurance cover to employees, pensioners and journos. Day after scrapping the health insurance contract with the Reliance General Insurance Company on October 25, 2018, Malik had asserted those involved in the ‘dubious’ deal will be punished, which, however didn’t happen till he relinquished as the last Governor of the united J&K (Ladakh included) on October 24, 2019 when the State was bifurcated into two Union Territories in accordance with J&K Reorganization Act 2019. We won’t ask why. We won’t ask who the RSS affiliated leader was whose file had not been pushed through by Satya Pal Malik.
Malik was an honest and upright Governor, who took the lid from the can of worms by exposing the beneficiaries of Roshni Act and thereby scrapping it too. He was instrumental in taking cognizance of the reports about the affairs of Jammu and Kashmir Bank Limited and so on. He has now come up with serious charges about two former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, who have rebounded back with one of them sending a legal notice, seeking Rs 10 crore compensation, on the plea that charges were total lies. We will not ask why Malik came up with these allegations now.
The former Governor has ventured into the sensitive security issue in Jammu and Kashmir as well, saying during his tenure terrorists didn’t dare to enter within 50-100 kilometers range of Srinagar. The claim is debatable because the terror graph has been fluctuating ever since its inception in 1990. At times strike rate by terrorists remains alarming but most of the times they get eliminated due to robust security grid.
Last but not the least, Satya Pal Malik has entered into another contentious arena related to the ongoing farmers’ stir, seeking revocation of three farm laws enacted by the Narendra Modi government after due passage in both the Houses of Parliament. Malik has subtly threatened of quitting his post if the farmers’ agitation continues. He says he will quit as Governor if need be, in case the issues of farmers are not resolved. In that event, he says he will join the agitation of Kissans in support of their demands. He goes on cautioning that if the demands of the farmers are not met, then the BJP government will not return to power. He said the BJP cannot even enter several villages in election bound Uttar Pradesh as a fall out of the farmers’ agitation.
Of late, Satya Pal Malik, famous for generating controversies, has become pro-active and very vocal. We won’t ask should a Governor enter into political foray and openly support an agitation while holding a constitutional position as representative of the President of India, who has given assent to the farm laws after their passage in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
The timing of allegations on corrupt practices in Jammu and Kashmir and comments on the ongoing farmers’ agitation raise several questions as to what has made Satya Pal Malik to voice his views quite vociferously. Is it because he is still feeling a sense of hurt for being shifted unceremoniously to Goa and then to Meghalaya? In any case, his gubernatorial term will end soon and, therefore, the observations on relinquishing as ‘Governor’ are of little consequence.
Malik is an interesting subject for anyone studying Indian politics and politicians. The crux of his latest moves ostensibly indicate his ambitions of returning to active politics after bidding adieu to gubernatorial assignments. The timing cannot be more favourable and appropriate than now when the Indian political landscape is in ‘agitational’ mode, the biggest one being spearheaded by the farmers, who are being defined as ‘Anndatas’ by, what Narendra Modi terms, ‘Andoolan Jeevies’.
While sticking on not to ask ‘why’, even a layman’s assessment about Satya Pal Malik’s assertions can be his deep yearning to join the Kissan Andolan and emerge as a Kissan leader. This can be a launching pad for entering into electoral fray to make way to Lok Sabha as Member of Parliament. The current leader, Rakesh Tikait is mired in controversies; the agitation is slipping out of his hands; the alleged controversies revolving around his father Mohinder Singh Takait are casting shadow over the future of this agitation. Those supporting the Kissan Andolan, overtly or covertly, want it to continue, at least till 2024 general elections in the country. To sustain this, the need is being felt to have a proactive leader. There cannot be a better choice for the slot than Satya Pal Malik, who has a stature and is credited with having spoken ‘fearlessly’ for the cause of farmers over the weeks despite being a Governor.
Malik has set a stage and now it will be interesting to watch when he shall act.