Who was Satya Pal Malik, Former J-K Governor? – Alfaaz – The Words

Satya Pal Malik, former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 79. Malik, who was a former Member of Rajya Sabha, was admitted to New Delhi’s RML Hospital where he died after battling prolonged illness.

A post on his official X account confirmed his death. Malik was admitted to the RML Hospital with complicated urinary tract infection, which in turn led to a septic shock, according to the hospital statement.

Malik was the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir for just one year, and was the last leader to hold the post before Article 370 was abrogated by the NDA-led central government.

Who was Satya Pal Malik?

Satya Pal Malik, a veteran politician for over 50 years, started out his career as an MLA in the 1970s. He switched multiple political parties and was a prominent leader for Jat and farmer population in his later years.

Malik, who hails from the Baghpat district from Western UP, first served as an MLA in the state Assembly in 1974-77, having been elected on a ticket of Chaudhary Charan Singh’s Bharatiya Kranti Dal. He was later appointed as a Member in the Rajya Sabha by Lok Dal in 1980, but joined the Congress party in 1984. He was once again appointed to the Rajya Sabha in 1986.

He joined the BJP in 2004 after resigning from the Congress party and a short stint Janata Dal. Malik held multiple senior posts in the party, including the head of the parliamentary committee that looked into the land acquisition Bill.

In 2017, Satya Pal Malik was appointed as the Governor of Bihar, and was transferred to Jammu and Kashmir in 2018. During his tenure as the J&K Governor, the Centre scrapped Article 370.

In 2022, Malik said in a statement that he would join RJD and Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, in hopes to fight for the welfare of farmers.

Malik’s criticism of NDA government

After his exit from the BJP, Satya Pal Malik critiqued certain policies of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government, most prominently the now-repealed farm laws. Malik had earlier claimed that farmers “had been at the receiving end of the anti-farmer policies of the Modi government”.

In 2013, he also claimed that the there were security lapses in Kashmir ahead of the Pulwama terror attack, which led to the death of 40 CRPF personnel. He also claimed that PM Modi asked him to remain silent over these alleged lapses.