Former Jammu & Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik has made a shocking revelation in an interview with journalist Karan Thapar for The Wire news portal that was uploaded on Friday evening. Malik claimed that the appointments made by India’s President Draupadi Murmu are completely under the control of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). He went on to say that the President of India is nothing but a mere puppet in the hands of PM Modi.
Malik’s claims have raised many eyebrows, as the President of India is supposed to be an independent constitutional authority who has the power to make appointments to high-level positions. Malik’s statement implies that the President is not free to exercise her own judgment and that all appointments are being made according to the wishes of the PMO.
Malik’s comments have created a stir on social media, with many expressing shock and disbelief at his claims. Twitter users expressed their concerns about the state of democracy in India, with many calling for accountability from those in power. Odisha Congress also took to Twitter to attack PM Modi on Malik’s statements, describing the claim as “an outrageous disrespect to the highest post of our country.”
In the interview, Satya Pal Malik also spoke about the bombing of the CRPF convoy in Pulwama in February 2019 that killed 40 jawans and was turned into an election issue by the BJP. He alleged that the CRPF had requested an aircraft to ferry their people, but the request was denied by the home ministry, even though they only needed five aircraft. This claim raises serious questions about the government’s handling of the incident and the safety of its security forces.
Malik, who was appointed Bihar governor by the Modi government in 2017 and transferred to Jammu and Kashmir in 2018, was in charge when the state was stripped of its special status and placed under a long Internet shutdown. When the state became a Union Territory, Malik was transferred to the Raj Bhavan in Goa.
Satya Pal Malik’s statements have sparked a political firestorm, with opposition parties calling for an investigation into the allegations. The ruling BJP has yet to comment on the matter.