Over the years, Vohra has maintained his balance and continued to advise the respective regimes. “His inputs proved useful to every regime and he proved his worth,” senior journalist and analyst Mohammad Syeed Malik said. Malik added that Vohra’s acquaintance with Kashmir compelled New Delhi to reelect him as the state Governor despite his old age.
It is the Vohra’s insight about Kashmir which he acquired as the union home secretary that despite the ideological differences, there is a consensus in New Delhi that he is the best man to “handle” Kashmir. As Malik says, “he does not play politics but he goes by the book of rules.”
Vohra’s extension as the J&K Governor is seen as a strategic move by a number of commentators and conflict experts. But the unionists except MY Tarigami link the move with 2014 J&K Assembly Elections and, on a wider scale, with the resolution of the vexed Kashmir issue.
The opposition PDP too seems to hold the same view. “He (Vohra) has been involved (in Kashmir affairs) for a long time. He is a source of satisfaction. We expect free and fair elections. After the polls, the Governor’s role can be crucial in terms of working towards the resolution of Kashmir,” PDP’s chief spokesman, Naeem Akhter, said. Akhtar said PDP doesn’t have any ‘bitterness’ with the Governor. “In fact, we never had any,” he added.
The State unit of Congress seems upbeat over the move. “He (Vohra) has a lot of knowledge about Kashmir. As a Governor, he has always been very secular-minded and also a firm believer of the principle of equity and justice,” Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz said, adding “I believe he can’t be a party to any unethical situation during the next polls or in the post-election scenario. He would, I am sure, ensure free and fair polls.”
The ruling National Conference too is all praise for Vohra. “After the 2014 elections, Vohra can act as a bridge between New Delhi and J&K government so that concrete steps are taken towards the settlement of Kashmir issue,” said NC parliamentarian, Dr Mehboob Baigh.
“We are yet to forget what we experienced and saw during the previous Governor’s rule. Vohra is a man of caliber who understands the sensitivity and sanctity of the position he holds. To my understanding, Vohra doesn’t favour status quo on Kashmir. During Governor’s rule in the state in 2008, he strongly advocated for the formation of an elected government,” Dr Baigh said.
NN Vohra is a person who is trusted by both Congress and the BJP in New Delhi. That may be the reason why he was asked to continue to be the Centre’s interlocutor on Jammu and Kashmir by Dr Manmohan Singh after he assumed the PM’s office. Vohra was appointed by the previous NDA Government as the centre’s point man for J&K in February 2003.
Pic: Bilal Bahadur
New Delhi’s trust on Vohra is not new. As home Secretary, Vohra was assigned to find out the facts about the activities of crime syndicates/mafia organizations who allegedly had developed links with and were being protected by some government functionaries and political personalities. A committee was formed which later came to be known as Vohra Committee.
In its final report pointed, the Vohra committee pointed out that “the nexus between the criminal gangs, police, bureaucracy and politicians had come out clearly in various parts of the country. The existing criminal justice system, which was essentially designed to deal with the individual offences/crimes, was unable to deal with the activities of the mafia; the
