Key challenge is to win people’s confidence: new J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik

Winning the confidence of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and addressing the issues concerning regional imbalances is the top priority for Satya Pal Malik, the first politician appointed as the Governor of Jammu & Kashmir since the beginning of militancy.

“It is a challenging job. The basic challenge is to win the confidence of the people of the state,” newly appointed Jammu & Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik told The Indian Express over phone from Patna.

The Bihar Governor, in this context, also recalled his association with former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed with whom he had worked in the VP Singh government.

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“Mufti Saheb was a friend. I have worked with him. He was a wonderful person,” Malik said.

The veteran politician, who has been associated with former Prime Ministers Charan Singh and V P Singh, also suggested that the appointment of a political person as Governor was a signal that the Centre was underlining the primacy of people’s concerns.

“The signal is that the Governor should be of the people,” Malik said when asked what was the Centre’s message in the appointment of a politician as the Governor of the state.

“The Prime Minister has always been serious about Jammu and Kashmir. Regarding its development as well as about the regional imbalances across three regions. He has always been with them in crisis. During floods, he supported Kashmir like anything,” Malik said.The newly appointed Governor identified the regional imbalance issue, which has been one of the key themes of BJP politics in the state, as one of his priorities.

“My mandate is to meet people’s expectations and to address the imbalance among the regions,” Malik said adding that he would get an update on the issues soon after he takes over.

Malik, currently serving as Governor of Bihar, was transferred to Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday during a reshuffle of Governors by President Ram Nath Kovind along with the appointment of three new Governors for the state of Bihar, Haryana and Uttarakhand. The announcement marked the retirement of incumbents N N Vohra (Jammu & Kashmir) and K K Paul (Uttarakhand).