Srinagar, Jun 2: Minister for Education Sakina Itoo on Tuesday acknowledged the limitations faced by the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir due to dual power system.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in Srinagar, Sakina Itoo said crucial powers, including those related to law and order, remain beyond the control of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led government.
"Thousands of people continue to languish in jails while the elected government lacks authority over the Home Department," she said.
The Home Department remains under the control of Lieutenant Governor's administration.
Itoo was referring to the present system of governance and blamed the former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti for joining hands with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2014 and 2016.
"We lost Article 370 and Article 35-A, and our identity was lost. This all happened because of Mehbooba Mufti who joined hands with the BJP," she said.
The minister acknowledged the restricted powers available to the elected government.
Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary in Handwara said that elected government had limited powers and key decisions were being taken by the bureaucracy.
"The elected government lacks control over senior officers and they are calling the shots," Choudhary said.
He said this while referring to the demolition drive held in Sidhraare of Jammu division few weeks ago.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on many occasions, also admitted that the elected government was having limited control in J&K.
This was even evident after Pahalgam attack that took place in April 2025, leaving dozens of tourists dead.
Following the incident major tourist destinations were left out of bounds of the local and non-local visitors.
Amid this, CM Omar, who is also the tourism minister, visited various countries and states for promotion of tourism but later admitted that his efforts for tourism promotion won't bear any results unless the destinations are thrown open "which are closed for security reasons."
His statement was a clear indication of limited control vested with the elected government.
During the last Assembly session, the MLAs often raised the issue of bureaucratic control in the system saying that bureaucrats were not taking the elected representatives seriously.
During the proceedings of the Budget Session, the legislators even raised the issue about absence of the bureaucrats in the officers gallery in the House, prompting the Speaker to intervene.
Earlier, the bureaucrats too expressed frustration on having to deal with two power centres - LG led administration and elected CM led government.
