KL Report
SRINAGAR
The ruling national Conference while lashing out at its coalition partner state Congress, Sunday termed it a ‘junior partner’ of the state coalition- asking it not to dictate terms.
After the allegations levelled by the Congress against NC of running the state with ‘corruption’ and ‘mis-governance’, the party sharpened its knives- maintaining that despite having mere 17 members in the assembly, it accepted Congress but the party must not transgress the limits.
NC MLA and additional general secretary Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Sunday stated that the remarks made by Soz over Paharies and OBCs of the state are unfortunate as the Congress never during the five and a half years of rule, raised such issues and when Omar has taken the measures for their development, the Congress seems hell-bent upon taking the ‘undue’ credit. “If Congress was that much serious over the issue of Paharies and others, why it didn’t raise such issues during the past five and a half years. The fact is that what Congress is doing at present is due to its frustration of rout from state and across India,” Kamal said.
He maintained that Congress ministers in the state have the port folios in the possession that have direct bearing upon the common man. “When Soz accuses us of corruption, he must understand that the vital port folios were in possession of his ministers. He cannot blame us.”
Kamal who is also the uncle of the chief minister said that party has given free choice to Omar to contest from anywhere in the state and that Omar at present is the face of Abdullah family. “Omar is free to contest from any assembly segment wherever from he wants and wishes.”
Kamal also maintained that he is ready to contest the upcoming state elections and it is well within the powers of the party whether they allow him to contest or not. “Yes, as far as I as a person is concerned- I am ready to contest the polls. What is wrong with me that you say I am not interested in entering into poll fray? If the party wants me to fight the polls, I will.”
Meanwhile, remaining tight lipped over the remarks made by the state Congress chief Saif-Ud-din Soz that Omar must convene the cabinet meet, National Conference Sunday refused to comment over the issue- maintaining Soz would know the situation better.
Over the charges of ‘corruption’ and ‘mis-governance’ levelled against the national conference by Soz earlier , the party stated that it is doing its work and doesn’t give much emphasis upon the allegations and counter allegations.
Senior NC minister and party general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar while preferring not to comment over the statement of Soz wherein he asked the chief minister Omar Abdullah to call an early cabinet meet to discuss the issues pertaining to the reservations of Paharies and OBCs, Sagar maintained that Soz would be in a better position to elaborate over the issue and that he doesn’t know much over the claims made by the Congress chief.
On one hand Sagar’s refusal to comment over the statement made by the coalition partner vindicates the fissures among the two parties within, while as sources maintained on the other hand that NC leadership is much perturbed over the series of allegations levelled by Congress against its coalition partner- making it to distance itself from the CCC meet convened last week by the Congress.
When asked whether the government would complete its tenure in office despite the fissures turning wide open, NC’s general secretary said, “If God wills!” However, he was quick to add that there are few months left and the office term of the coalition is about to get completed.
Over the charges of mis-governance and corruption, that Congress claims became the decisive factor in its rout during the recently held LS polls, Sagar stated that the National Conference is doing its work with more emphasis being laid upon peoples’ welfare. “We are doing our work and are much busy in the same. Our priority is peoples’ welfare and on the same we are concentrating.”
Soz on Saturday made a scathing remark the announcements of the chief minister Omar Abdullah during latter’s address on August wherein he talked about reservation of Paharies and OBCs of the state. The state Congress chief claimed that the Package for refugees, Reservation for Paharies, Reservation for OBCs including Jats and several other matters were not only indicated in the Congress Party’s Manifesto but these proposals are already with the Cabinet. In addition to these proposals Congress Party has wanted to enhance honorarium to Sarpanchs, Panchs, Numberdars and several other Public welfare measures have already been identified before Cabinet. Soz has urged the Chief Minister to call a meeting of the Cabinet, as early as possible.
