The contested legacy of former J&K governor Jagmohan Malhotra

Jagmohan Malhotra (popularly known as Jagmohan), a well-known civil servant and administrator for decades, died on Monday at the age of 93. According to reports, Jagmohan died in Delhi after a brief illness.

Jagmohan was most famous for his two terms as governor of Jammu and Kashmir (1984 to 1989 and January-May of 1990). His tenures coincided with an upsurge in militancy in the state. Jagmohan was credited with acting to curb attacks on Kashmiri Pandits in his second tenure as governor of Jammu and Kashmir. However, Jagmohan was recalled in his second tenure after violence erupted in Jammu and Kashmir following the assassination of Mirwaiz Moulvi Mohammad Farooq.

Jagmohan had also served as lieutenant governor of Delhi and Goa.

Jagmohan, who was promoted to the IAS in 1962, became controversial for his work as vice-chairman of the Delhi Development Authority. Jagmohan grew close to Sanjay Gandhi, the son of prime minister Indira Gandhi, during the Emergency. During the period, Jagmohan was accused of orchestrating large-scale demolition of slums in Delhi as part of Sanjay Gandhi's beautification drive. Jagmohan was also accused of involvement in the Turkman Gate incident, when police opened fire on people opposing demolition of slums. Jagmohan had denied any wrongdoing.

In an article he wrote in Hindustan Times in 2007, Jagmohan wrote, "A Metropolitan Criminal Court in Delhi held the story [Turkman Gate incident] to be a complete fabrication. The worst part of this fabrication was that many ‘eminent’ journalists wrote the same story in their books on the Emergency, as if they were themselves witness to it."

Jagmohan, who joined the BJP, won a hat-trick of Lok Sabha poll victories from Delhi (1996, 1998 and 1999). He served as minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee governments, handling various portfolios such as communications, urban development and tourism and culture.

Jagmohan received the Padma Shri in 1971, Padma Bhushan in 1977 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016.

A number of BJP leaders condoled the death of Jagmohan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "Jagmohan Ji’s demise is a monumental loss for our nation. He was an exemplary administrator and a renowned scholar. He always worked towards the betterment of India. His ministerial tenure was marked by innovative policy making."

Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted, "Shri Jagmohan Ji will always be remembered for his remarkable tenure as the Governor of J&K. An able administrator and later a devoted politician who took key decisions for the nation’s peace & progress. India mourns his sad demise."