Home » Website » National » In J&K, The Story Of A 'Broken' Fax Machine And An Elusive Governor
In J&K, The Story Of A 'Broken' Fax Machine And An Elusive Governor
Amid the political play out, the fax machine at the Raj Bhavan in Jammu emerged a stand-out in character in the larger political play, becoming the source of comic relief during the tense political manoeuvrings.
Outlook Web Bureau	22 November 2018
Outlook Web Bureau	November 22, 2018 00:00 IST In J&K, The Story Of A 'Broken' Fax Machine And An Elusive Governor
J&K Governor Dissolves Assembly After Mehbooba, Lone Stake Claim To Form Govt
It Is Advantage Mehbooba In Jammu And Kashmir
J&K Governor Speaks Up, Justifies His Decision To Dissolve Assembly
The fast-paced political developments in Jammu and Kashmir reached a climax on Wednesday night when Governor Satya Pal Malik dissolved the state assembly after former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Sajad Lone, both staked claims to the government.
However, amid the political play out, the fax machine at the Raj Bhavan in Jammu emerged a stand-out character, becoming the source of comic relief during the tense political manoeuvrings.
As Mufti decided to present her case for government formation claiming support of 56 MLAs, the PDP leader had trouble communicating her message to the Governor.
Ostensibly, as Mufti was in Srinagar, and after the darbar move last month, the administration shifted to Jammu for the winter season, the PDP president decided to fax her claim to the Raj Bhavan, only to be left bemused as her fax was not received, triggering speculation that the machine at the Governor's residence was either broken or in deliberate no answer mode .
Have been trying to send this letter to Rajbhavan. Strangely the fax is not received. Tried to contact HE Governor on phone. Not available. Hope you see it @jandkgovernor pic.twitter.com/wpsMx6HTa8
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) November 21, 2018
Mufti claimed that she tried to reach the Governor on the phone, but alas, the Governor continued to remain incommunicado.
Finally, the former CM decided to stake her claim through less traditional means and announced on Twitter that she had e-mailed her letter to the Governor.
Sending the letter also by mail https://t.co/116mpfOrpo
Meanwhile, Sajad Lone, who was putting together a front comprising rebel PDP MLA besides his own party's two MLAs, and tacit support from the BJP, also jumped in and pushed his claim to the government by sending the letter to the Governor's PA by WhatsApp, no less. He posted a screenshot of the same on Twitter.
pic.twitter.com/9Srmmapdkr
— Sajad Lone (@sajadlone) November 21, 2018
As the political climax reached its peak with the Governor entertaining neither of the claims and dissolving the state Assembly, by that time, the fax machine had already emerged as a potent meme churning subject material.
People across social media started chipping in-jokes and memes, trying to put across witty takes on the state's politics with the fax machine as a central character.
In fact, late into the night, former CM Omar Abdullah also decided to join the fray, tweeting that the Raj Bhawan is in need of a new fax machine.
Later, he also posted a GIF on Twitter, with the caption reading "Raj Bhavan Jammu fax machine at work."
Raj Bhavan Jammu fax machine at work 😀 pic.twitter.com/RyLOhvQinc
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) November 21, 2018
Surprisingly, Mufti decided to join in on the fun and commented on his tweet with a photo of a skeleton, with the caption reading "Meanwhile those awaiting a response."
Meanwhile those awaiting a response. pic.twitter.com/Q4OM7rFfvB
The governor, however, in an interview to a news channel claimed that due to the holiday of Eid-e-Milad falling on Wednesday, no employee was there to attend to the fax machine.
However, this response did not seem satisfactory to many observers including Mufti, who pointed out that the Governor's recommendation for dissolving the Assembly was communicated by fax only.
Oh. But the office magically opened on Eid to send a recommendation to centre for dissolving the assembly and then for notifying its dissolution. Badhiya hai. https://t.co/BtmV4j7Pf0
— Sushant Singh (@SushantSin) November 22, 2018
PS - In todays age of technology, it is very strange that the fax machine at HE Governor's residence didn't receive our fax but swiftly issued one regarding the assembly dissolution. ðŸ¤Â"4/4
Others on social media also had hot takes and sharp puns on the supposed non-functioning of Raj Bhavan fax machine.
PDP: humare passcongree hai NC hai
BJP: humare pass Governor hai.
Governor: humare pass fax machine hai
😂😋#JammuAndKashmir #GovernorRule
— Nikher Jandyal (@NikherJandyal) November 21, 2018
With the governor's much hyped fight against corruption , the fax machine of Raj bhavan should be first on his list. ;)
— Fahad Ali Khan (@ali_fahadkhan) November 21, 2018
Madam, this is to inform you that the governor's fax machine has been repaired. I just received a fax from Raj Bhawan. pic.twitter.com/8gsuOLlLhr
— Hamad (@_hamadshah) November 21, 2018
#Kashmir #Mahagathbandhan
😃
|\âÂÂÂÂÂÂœ‹ðŸ¤Âš
/ \_
━━━━━┓ \\
┓┓┓┓┓┃ Jhamooriyat
┓┓┓┓┓┃ ヽ😮ãƒÂÂÂÂÂÂÂŽ
┓┓┓┓┓┃   /
┓┓┓┓┓┃ ãƒÂÂÂÂÂÂÂŽ)
┓┓┓┓┓┃
┓┓┓┓┓┃ 📠Fax Machine
— Haider Ali Punjabi (@HAliPunjabi) November 21, 2018
How Police Can Ensure Justice To #MeToo Victims
Outlook Web Bureau	Mehbooba Mufti	Omar Abdullah	Satya Pal Malik	Sajad Gani Lone	J&K: Jammu & Kashmir	Srinagar	Jammu and kashmir	PDP	Congress	J&K National Conference (JKNC)	BJP	National
More from India
Nirbhaya Case: Feb 1 Hanging Unlikely If Convicts File Curative, Mercy Petition
Kerala Teacher Tells Students To Go To Pakistan If Unwilling To Accept CAA; Suspended
'Qawwali Nahi Chalegi Yahan': Kathak Dancer Manjari Chaturvedi Says Act Stopped Midway At UP Govt Event
AAP, BJP Spar Over Delay In Nirbhaya Case Convicts' Hanging
Might Is Right: How Parties In Power (Mis)Used The Indian Police Force
OPINION | Delhi Police Had Brilliant Officers, It's Missing Good Leadership Now
Section 144 Is Colonial Tool For 'Nationalist' Oppression
A New Brotherhood: Two Hues Of India's Saffron
Saikat Majumdar
Our Institutions, Especially The Police, Are Too Politicised
Vappala Balachandran
India Vs Australia, 1st ODI, Highlights: AUS Cruise Past IND, Take 1-0 Lead
Neelav Chakravarti
MS Dhoni Misses Out On Annual BCCI Contract; Jasprit Bumrah In Topmost Tier – Full List
Outlook Web Bureau
25 Injured As 8 Coaches Of Mumbai-Bhubaneswar Lokmanya Tilak Express Derail
Nirbhaya Gangrape-Murder Case: What The Tihar Jail Manual Says About Execution
Jeevan Prakash Sharma
Tales Of Police Excesses Raise Questions About Their Propriety. Is There A Deeper Rot In Agency?
Puneet Nicholas Yadav
Rasika Dugal Visits A Real-Life ACP In Chandigarh For Preparation Of Delhi Crime Season 2
Lachmi Deb Roy
How Much Would You Pay For A Kidney?
Shailesh Chitnis
'I Am An Old Man Now, Pretending To Be Cool': Saif Ali Khan's Hillarious Reply On Going To Same Pub With Taimur, Ibrahim
BJP Releases First List Of 57 Candidates For Delhi Polls
Mohun Bagan-ATK Merger Is A Slap On Football Legacy, Bad News For I-League
J.P. Nadda Dares Rahul Gandhi To Speak 10 Sentences On Citizenship Act
'Our Police, Our Security': Whose Police Is It Anyway In Bhubaneswar?
'Qawwali Nahi Chalegi ': Dancer Says Act Stopped Midway At UP Govt Event
'Not Interested In Politics': Nirbhaya's Mother Denies Reports Of Contesting Delhi Polls
After Kerala, Punjab Assembly Passes Resolution Against CAA
2nd ODI: KL Rahul Leads India To Series-Levelling Victory Vs Australia
Outlook Bibliofile | Spiritual Guru Sri M Speaks About His Book 'Shunya'
Outlook This Week | Who Do The Police Serve: Political Masters Or Public?
AAP, BJP Or Congress? The Delhi Voter Answers