Murmu to head J&K UT, Mathur Ladakh, Oath ceremonies held in Srinagar, Leh
Nasir Azam
Srinagar, Oct 31 (KNO): In a historic turn of developments, Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday seized to be a State as two Lieutenant Governors— Girish Chander Murmu and Radha Krishen Mathur took oath as the heads of two Union Territories (UTs)—J&K and Ladakh. It is after more than 70 years that once a princely state of Jammu and Kashmir ruled by its independent king, was today officially bifurcated into two Union Territories (UTs)—Ladakh and J&K.
According to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), in a simple, but glittering function held at Rajbhawan in Srinagar, Murmu was administered oath as J&K’s LG by Chief Justice of J&K High Court Gita Mital. All the top officials of State were present on the occasion, who greeted and welcomed Murmu as the new LG of new UT—J&K. Similarly, for Laddakh UT, Mathur took oath in Leh where all the officials from the Ladakh administration were present.
In Srinagar, while taking the oath, Murmu said that he will serve the UT to the best of his “capacity and capability.”
The decision to bifurcate erstwhile State into two Union Territories (UTs) was taken by Centre on August 5 when announcement regarding revocation of Article 370 was also taken. Two separate bills were passed in both the houses of parliament with full majority and the J&K and Ladakh were declared as two UTs officially on October 31, the birth anniversary of Sardar Valabhai Patel. The day also coincided with the country’s unity day known as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas where in a pledge is taken to serve and to protect the country’s unity and integrity.”
For elderly Ghulam Ahmed Lone, a resident of Abi Guzar Srinagar, October 31 will be remembered in the history of Kashmir forever as a historic day. “There has been so many political developments since past over 70 years. Seventy years ago, we were an independent state ruled by our own king, then we acceded to Union of India under the leadership of then leader Shiekh Muhammad Abdullah and now we are have two UTs carved out of one State,” Lone told KNO. “I think this way no other state would have witnessed a long and fateful political journey.”
Senior officials from civil administration and security including advisors to former Governor Satya Pal Malik, GOC 15 Corps KJS Dhillon and BJP MP from Jammu Jugal Kishore attended the ceremony. Malik has been moved to Governor of Goa for the rest of his tenure. Murmu’s wife and niece were also present at the ceremony. (KNO)
