J&K can't be managed with dual control, says Nasir Wani

‘Need to leverage Omar's experience with fully reinstated statehood’

SRINAGAR: Advisor to Chief Minister Jammu and Kashmir Nasir Aslam Wani today said that the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory cannot be managed with dual control where security is under the Lieutenant Governor and the rest of the administration is run by the Chief Minister.
Addressing the media after the inaugurating event in Srinagar, Nasir said we need to leverage Omar Abdullah's experience and handle this through a fully reinstated statehood.
He said I hope the central committee will expedite this process.
Wani highlighted the people's aspirations, the newly formed government's responsibilities, and the central government's commitment to resolving the issues facing the region.
“People’s expectations are valid,” Wani remarked. “They have elected the government with hope. Elections were held after a decade, and a public government was formed after five years. People's hopes are tied to this government, and we will try our best to meet their expectations and deliver on all the promises they trusted us with.” He noted that the administration has only had eight days since the official government formation on the 16th and assured the public that meaningful changes will take time but are on the way.
Addressing concerns from opposition voices, Wani appealed for patience and understanding. He called on opposition leaders to allow the new government adequate time to implement its promises. In his view, recent protests questioning the pace of change were premature. “The opposition must exercise patience,” Wani urged, suggesting that the current protests lacked sufficient basis given the government's recent inception. He also pointed out that yesterday’s protests followed an order that had been issued two days prior, questioning the need for such immediate public unrest.
Wani also emphasized the critical importance of dialogue between the Chief Minister and national leaders, including the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister, to address the state's unique issues. "It is essential for the Chief Minister to meet the country’s leadership to prioritise Jammu and Kashmir’s issues," he explained. Wani expressed gratitude for the support pledged by the Prime Minister and other ministers, expressing optimism that these commitments will lead to solutions that benefit the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He reiterated that dual governance, in which security operations remain under the Lieutenant Governor while administration falls to the Chief Minister, has proved ineffective in the region. Citing recent incidents that resulted in the tragic loss of lives, Wani argued that unified control under a fully reinstated statehood is necessary to bring stability. "Jammu and Kashmir cannot be managed with dual control," he stated. He stressed that the government should draw on Omar Abdullah's experience to lead with a unified administrative and security framework.
In closing, Wani expressed hope that the central government would soon act on the demands for statehood. "Statehood is essential for Jammu and Kashmir,” he remarked, “and I am hopeful that the central committee will expedite the process.”