J&K L-G gets angry at drop of hat, thinned my security cover for raising serious questions: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary

J&K Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Tuesday (October 7, 2025) accused J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha of withdrawing his security “for raising voice against corrupt practices” during the previous regime.  

In a rare threat, Mr. Choudhary of the ruling National Conference (NC) said the J&K government was being forced to approach the judiciary over “the interference of the L-G in most affairs of the elected government”.

“L-G sahib gets angry at the drop of hat. He ruled J&K for the past five years. When I point out corrupt practices in the industrial policy, illegal mining and corruption in the constructions of roads, he should take action. Instead, the L-G withdraws vehicles from my motorcade,” Mr. Choudhary said.

He claimed 11 months after the security review of the Deputy Chief Minister, the security was thinned out “without any reason”. “I am provided with rickety and old bulletproof cars. If L-G sahib thinks the Deputy Chief Minister has no threat, please withdraw my entire security,” Mr. Choudhary.  

He also claimed whenever he spoke truth about the previous regime in J&K, the L-G administration “goes after relatives”. He was making an indirect reference to his brother Inspector Vijay Singh Choudhary who was transferred to the Union Territory of Ladakh on September 16 by the L-G.

“Law does not exist in J&K. I urge the Centre, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister to restore Statehood and empower the Chief Minister. The CM is not able to take decisions as the files are withheld by the L-G. Not only the police, the L-G interferes everywhere. We have proof of it,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

He said a situation is emerging in J&K where the government will be forced to approach the judiciary. “We have the option of approaching the judiciary, if this continues,” he added. 

The Deputy Chief Minister said withholding the status of Statehood to J&K was harming the interests of unemployed, daily wagers etc.,” he added.  

He said there is a need to look at the situation emerging in Ladakh recently. “People were beating drums in 2019 and today see what they have come to,” the Deputy Chief Minister said, while referring to the recent deaths and injuries to civilians during street protests over Statehood and Sixth Schedule status. 

“If the BJP puts up a statue of Maharaja Hari Singh outside their office in Jammu, why weren’t the heirs of the Maharaja consulted in 2019 (when erstwhile State of J&K was reduced to a UT). J&K was founded by the Maharaja. The BJP is just good at theatrics,” Mr. Choudhary said.

The NC leader said the people of J&K were hopeful that they will get a Diwali gift from the Supreme Court (SC). “We expect the SC to restore Statehood, as a Diwali gift,” he added. The SC is hearing petitions on restoration of Statehood to J&K. 

He said the only way to tackle the issue of unemployment, daily wagers and development, “it is Statehood”. “Statehood is a demand from a shopkeeper to the unemployed in J&K. It’s not merely a demand of the NC,” he added.