SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has fired back at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s “king” remark, offering to resign if over 75% of the public doesn’t acknowledge the welfare work done in the last five years. Speaking at Aaj Tak’s ‘Panchayat’, Sinha proposed a secret ballot to gauge public sentiment post-Article 370 abrogation. “He (Rahul Gandhi) should take the opinion of the public; he will be more aware. Get a secret ballot done. If more than 75% of the public doesn’t say that work has been done for their welfare in the last five years, then I will resign,” Sinha said. Responding to Gandhi’s comparison of his functioning to that of kings, Sinha asserted, “Whichever party forms the next government in J&K will have my full support. In the Union Territories, the Lieutenant Governor has such powers.” Sinha also assured that the upcoming Assembly elections, scheduled from September 18, would be “completely free and fair.” He attributed the record voter turnout in the recent Lok Sabha polls to the people’s rejection of Pakistan’s conspiracy and their faith in Indian democracy. “The people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the people of the Valley, have expressed faith in the democracy of India,” Sinha said. Reiterating his commitment to democracy, Sinha emphasized, “The Congress and opposition should know that Article 370 is no longer part of the Constitution. Even the Supreme Court has upheld the Centre’s decision to scrap Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.”
