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| Kishtwar Violence: Azad's conspicuous absence raises eyebrows | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Aug 24: Ex-Chief Minister and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad's conspicuous absence from communally polarized Kishtwar town has given credence to news-reports that Azad is distancing himself from administrative failures of Omar Abdullah led coalition Government which is rolling from one crisis to another.
Even though senior congress leaders in the State give full credit to former Chief Minister for his behind the screen peace efforts in the violence hit Kishtwar which is now limping towards normalcy, but his absence is being attributed to his dissatisfaction with the handling of the situation in Kishtwar by Omar Abdullah led dispensation.
"It was because of the efforts of Azad Sahib that the situation in Gool which took an ugly turn after the killings of 5 protesters by security forces on July 18, that normalcy was restored in the area" said a senior Congress leader and Azad loyalist adding that the State Government was caught in a tight spot but Azad Sahib bailed it out by taking some corrective measures at the highest level in New-Delhi.
But the former Chief Minister who belongs to the area and holds enough influence over the people belonging to all communities in erstwhile Doda district, comprising of Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban districts, is yet to visit Kishtwar town and persuade the people to strengthen and promote communal harmony and brotherhood in the region. Even though his close aides claim that Azad was in touch with the community leaders of the Kishtwar to ensure that peace normalcy returns.
However, his decision of preferring not to visit the area is being analyzed with different angles. Former Minister and MLA, Inderwal Ghulam Mohammad Saroori said, "Credit for peace efforts being made to restore normalcy in Kishtwar goes to Azad as he is in constant touch with all the people, including political leaders, of the region. On his directions, an all-party delegation, headed by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, visited the town and held discussions with representatives of both the communities so that peace and communal brotherhood are restored."
Saroori said Azad had deliberately delayed his Kishtwar visit because he did not want to give any opportunity to the opposition parties to exploit the situation, especially after the State Government stopped Arun Jaitley, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, from visiting Kishtwar on August 11. However, this statement does not hold much water, for, Azad is the local leader who is being respected by all the communities equally and could have contributed enormously in restoring normalcy in the region.
Azad used to make frequent visits to all parts of erstwhile Doda district during the crisis period. He had recently visited different parts of Doda district after major earthquake jolted the region on May 1. He had also made serious efforts to defuse the tension in Bhaderwah town following clashes between two communities some time back.
"We regret absence of Ghulam Nabi Azad at this time of crisis. He should have visited Kishtwar town at least once to see the scale of devastation and destruction. Hundreds of shops and commercial establishments have been reduced to ashes. A deep fear continues to occupy the minds of the people about the fragile peace," a local BJP worker, who refused to be named, said.
He said that Government did not allow Arun Jaitley to visit Kishtwar but being a local leader, Azad should have had an interaction with people. "Unfortunately, he has not uttered even a single condemnation of the violence and loss suffered by the people so far," he said. Whatever, the reason for Azad not visiting the area, there is a growing perception that Azad was not satisfied with the Omar administration over the handling of the situation and as such distanced himself from the State administration. |
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