Guv Malik speaks out in defence of J&K assembly dissolution

Governor Satya Pal Malik, who has been roundly criticised by opposition parties for abruptly dissolving the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, defended his decision on Thursday, describing the last-minute political formations in the state as an “unholy alliance” that should not have been permitted to form a government in the state. Malik insisted that he had not received Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti’s fax claiming support of political parties.“But even if I had, my decision would have been the same,” the governor told reporters at a media interaction. On the timing of his decision to abruptly dissolve the assembly after waiting for five months, the governor said the six-month deadline for keeping the assembly in suspension was expiring next month. “Plus, it was a holy day. It was Eid,” he said, declaring that Mehbooba Mufti and others were free to approach the courts against the dissolution.