Avinash Azad
In a sharp retort to ongoing criticism over illegal mining, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary offered the vacant post of District Mining Officer (DMO) in Udhampur to BJP MLA R.S. Pathania on Wednesday, challenging the legislator to fix a system the government itself is struggling to control.
Addressing a public darbar (gathering) in the Majalta block of Udhampur district, Choudhary responded directly to Pathania’s frequent allegations regarding the mining sector.
“The MLA speaks about mining daily; I see his statements on social media,” Choudhary said. “Since the DMO position in Udhampur is vacant, send your MLA to me. I will hand over the responsibility to him so he can streamline the mining department himself.”
The Deputy CM’s remarks came shortly after Pathania, who represents Udhampur East, led BJP workers in a protest and attempted to block Choudhary’s motorcade en route to the Majalta event. The protesters alleged rampant corruption within the mining department—a portfolio currently held by Choudhary, alongside Public Works and Industries, in the Omar Abdullah-led government.
During his address, Choudhary acknowledged the widespread frustration over the issue, admitting that the Chief Minister, the administration, and the public are all angered by the prevailing mining culture in J&K. However, he also took the opportunity to ridicule Pathania’s recent allegations.
“Two days ago, he was talking about a ₹200 crore hotel in Noida. Since when did the MLA join the CID?” Choudhary quipped. Advising the gathering against political grandstanding, he added, “Leaders fight for their own interests; the public should not blindly follow them.”
The Deputy CM has frequently cited a lack of coordination and jurisdictional limitations as the primary hurdles in tackling the mining mafia. Because law enforcement and district administrations—including Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs)—operate under the direct control of the Lieutenant Governor, Choudhary claims the elected Union Territory government is restricted in its ability to eradicate the menace. Pathania’s protest is part of a broader wave of vocal discontent from BJP legislators regarding administrative inefficiencies in the Union Territory. Recently, Chenani MLA Balwant Mankotia raised serious concerns over an uncontrolled bureaucracy, while Jammu East MLA Yudhvir Sethi lambasted the administration over its handling of multiple local issues.
