Sajad Lone Demands Mehbooba Admit ‘Error of Judgement’ Over AIIMS Meeting, Calls it ‘Unconstitutional Trespass’ | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference President and Handwara MLA Sajad Gani Lone on Saturday launched a sharp attack on former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti over her chairing of a review meeting at AIIMS, describing the move as an “unconstitutional trespass” and urging her to publicly acknowledge it as an error of judgement.

Lone said the meeting, chaired by Mufti despite her not holding any elected office, had created a dangerous precedent that could allow other unelected political figures to exercise authority over public institutions in Jammu and Kashmir.

“The chairing of the review meeting at AIIMS by a non-MLA was an unconstitutional trespass and will remain an unconstitutional trespass,” Lone said in a statement.

Questioning the implications of the development, the Peoples Conference leader asked what would prevent non-elected functionaries of the BJP or the RSS from presiding over similar meetings in the future if such actions were accepted as legitimate.

“If she can chair a review meeting of a central institution today without being an MLA, what stops an RSS or BJP non-MLA functionary from doing the same?” he asked, adding that other senior political leaders who do not hold elected office could also claim similar authority.

Lone argued that no such political entitlement exists elsewhere in the country and warned that failing to acknowledge the impropriety could undermine constitutional norms and institutional accountability in Jammu and Kashmir.

He also held Chief Minister Omar Abdullah partly responsible, alleging that the government’s handling of opposition legislators had contributed to an environment in which such incidents could occur.

“Had the CM not set his ministers against the opposition MLAs and eroded their authority, this event of constitutional impropriety may not have taken place,” Lone said, calling on Abdullah to clarify the government’s position on the issue.

Rejecting any suggestion that the participation or approval of Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda legitimised the meeting, Lone said constitutional roles could not be altered through administrative or political arrangements.

“Nadda Sahib is the honourable Health Minister of India. But he does not have the power to redesign constitutional roles,” he said.

Lone reiterated his earlier criticism of the episode, which he had described as an act “packed with audacity” and warned could amount to a constitutional crisis if such precedents were allowed to stand.

While maintaining his criticism, Lone said the matter could still be resolved if Mehbooba Mufti acknowledged that chairing the meeting had been a mistake.

“It is imperative that she admits it was an error of judgement,” he said, warning that failure to do so could leave the door open for similar actions by other unelected political figures in the future.