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 Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha of withdrawing his security “to raise voice against corrupt practices” during the previous regime.

In a rare threat, Choudhary of the ruling National Conference (NC) said the J&K government had to approach the judiciary over the “interference of the LG in most affairs of the elected government”.

“LG Sahib is angry at the drop of a hat. He has ruled J&K for the last five years. When I point out corrupt practices in industrial policy, illegal mining and corruption in road construction, he needs to take action. Instead, LG is withdrawing vehicles from my moto,” Choudhary said.

The minister claimed security had been thinned “without any reason”, 11 months after the Deputy Prime Minister’s security review. “I was given rickety and old bulletproof cars. If LG Sahib thinks there is no threat to the Deputy Chief Minister, please withdraw all my security,” he said.

Also when he tells the truth about the previous regime in J&K, the LG administration is “going after relatives”. He was making an indirect reference to his brother, Inspector Vijay Singh Choudhary, who was transferred by the LG to the Union Territory of Ladakh on September 16.

The Prime Minister said, “I urge the Centre, the Chief Minister and the Home Minister in J&K to restore statehood and strengthen the Prime Minister. The CM cannot take decisions as he is hidden by the LG. Not only the police, the LG is intervening everywhere.” he said.

He said a situation has arisen in J&K where the government will have to approach the judiciary. “If this continues, we have the option of approaching the judiciary,” he added.

The deputy chief minister told J&K that retaining statehood would result in loss of jobs, daily wagers etc. “He said it harmed his interests,” he said.

He said there was a need to look at the situation that has emerged in Ladakh recently. “People were beating the drums in 2019 and today they see what they have come to,” the deputy prime minister said, referring to recent deaths and injuries of civilians during street protests over statehood and sixth schedule status.

“If the BJP puts a statue of Maharaja Hari Singh outside its offices in Jammu, why are they not the heirs of the Maharaja consulted in 2019 (in case J&K is reduced to a UT). J&K was founded by the Maharaja.

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

Unemployment, daily stakes and development are the only ways to address the issue of “statehood”, he said. “Statehood is the demand of a shopkeeper to the unemployed in J&K. It is not just the demand of NC,” he added.