Later, Rahul took off to Kargil where he met people and interacted with the officials. After spending more than an hour there, Rahul flew to Gagangir to join C P Joshi and Omar Abdullah and his cabinet at the foundation laying ceremony of the tunnel.
Appreciating the role of UPA government, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah hoped they would focus on accelerating the process of addressing J&K- centric issues and initiate centre-state internal dialogue to help strengthen state’s bonds with the country and ensure holistic development and welfare of the people in a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.
“This would also help in strengthening state-centre ties, unity and love between all regions of Jammu and Kashmir and permanent peace and progress in the region,” Omar said in his speech after formally receiving his ‘friend’ at Gagangir. J&K chief minister did count a number of road and surface communication that the central government was gracious enough to sanction and implement.
Invoking the relationship between Nehru and Sheikh, Indira and Sheikh, his dad Farooq Abdullah and Rajiv Gandhi, Omar said he also has joined hands with Rahul to resolve political and development issues pertaining to J&K.
Union Minister for Renewable Energy and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, Farooq Abdullah, also had a mention of past relations. Welcoming Rahul Gandhi at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Z-Morh tunnel in Sonamarg area of north Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, Farooq Abdullah said he recalled how his father, Sheikh Abdullah, and Rahul Gandhi’s grandfather, Pandit Nehru, had joined hands to make Kashmir the crown and glory of India.
Farooq had a piece of advice for both Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi and his son and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. “Don’t be afraid of opposing winds. These always blow to raise you higher. You must face opposition with courage. The enemies of peace and progress will always be there. But you have to face them with strength and fortitude,” the elder Abdullah told the two at Sonamarg.
Earlier, Rahul had showed his displeasure over some states (including J&K) not delegating power to Panchayats in Ranchi, pledging that he would fight for empowerment of rural bodies. Omar responded by saying that devolution of power to Panchayats had not gone down well with a section of politicians and bureaucrats.
“Many MLAs and even two ministers from our coalition partner have come to me asking not to transfer block level powers to Panchayats,” Omar said in an obvious reference to Congress. The party spokesman though dismissed suggestions that it is “Omar versus Rahul” on the issue of the security of elected Sarpanchs in Jammu and Kashmir but stressed they should be provided full security by the state government.
“Not at all. There is nothing like Omar Abdullah versus Rahul Gandhi in this matter,” party spokesperson Rashid Alvi told reporters when asked whether the issue of security of elected Sarpanchs and Panchayat members in Jammu and Kashmir was leading to some sort of a tiff between Gandhi and Omar.
The friendship of Rahul and Omar is not being taken well by senior leaders of state congress. They feel that this will hamper the future success of congress in the state. “Rahul Ji aur Omar Abdullah Ki Dosti Kay Liye Congress Apni Dukan Band Nahin Kar Sakti”, Member Parliament (MP) and former minister Madan Lal Sharma said, while addressing a function. He reiterated his party’s demand for implementation of 73rd and 74th constitutional amendment in Jammu and Kashmir.
Not happy with the performance of their own ministers, Congress leaders want a cabinet reshuffle and are desperate to get back R&B and Education portfolios which are currently with the chief minister. The state Congress believes that by getting these portfolios back, the Congress will be able to reconnect with people and assert itself again.
It is also believed that senior leaders at national level were of the opinion that the Congress Ministers in J&K had become complacent and corrupt and as such were playing second fiddle to the National Conference and have told the Congress top brass including Sonia Gandhi that if this continued the party would have to pay heavily in the 2014 elections in J&K.
“Our own men are conniving against the party. Time has come for a shakeup,” said an AICC member.
Omar and Rahul are in process of carrying forward the already established family relation. Sour and sweet, both the parties complement each other to remain in power. The state congress leaders are aghast over the dominating approach of National conference and on the other hand Dr Mustafa Kamal of NC called congress leaders as ‘gutter ke keede’. The relation which was started by Sheikh and Nehru, their grandchildren are planning to cement. People feel that this match is always a mismatch. “Better relations between Abdullahs and Gandhis have always been detrimental to Kashmir,” said a student of Political Science, Insha Ali. “When Sheikh extended hand and raised a voice, he was handcuffed. What should Omar expect?” she asked.
