The race for new Governor of Jammu and Kashmir has intensified with the BJP leadership of the state pitching for PS Gill who had served the state in the nineties before going on to be appointed a director general of police in Punjab.
The second tenure of Governor NN Vohra ended last month amid reports that the Centre was considering a couple of names to replace him.
Some BJP leaders point out that Gill had handled terrorism when it was at its peak in the Valley. At a time when the Valley is witness to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, Gill’s experience of having held top police posts in both in J&K and Punjab may help.
He had led several anti-terrorism operations in Kashmir when he was IGP there in 1994. Moreover, Gill is considered close to Amit Shah and BJP general secretary and J&K incharge Ram Madhav.
Gill was the first among retired top police officers to join the BJP in a rally of party president Amit Shah. Later, he persuaded many other political activists to join the saffron party.
His name for Governor of J&K was reportedly being considered for approval by the PMO about two years ago but the then Punjab deputy CM Sukhbir Badal and other senior Akali Dal leaders raised objections.