Early Times Report
Jammu, July 16: The Congress high command is reportedly rethinking disciplinary action against senior dissident leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, fearing that a crackdown could trigger a rebellion similar to the one currently unfolding in Punjab.
Highly placed party sources said the three-member fact-finding committee, constituted to probe factionalism and indiscipline in the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), has already submitted its report to the central leadership after interacting with senior leaders across the Union Territory.
However, the leadership is yet to take a final call on the committee's recommendations.
"The developments in Punjab have made the high command cautious. It does not want disciplinary action in Jammu and Kashmir to deepen divisions or spark a fresh revolt," a senior party source said. The hesitation comes amid growing unrest in the Punjab Congress after the party leadership decided to retain Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president, prompting several leaders seeking a change in leadership to openly voice their dissent.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress high command had, on July 2, suspended two leaders from the party's primary membership over alleged anti-party activities. However, no action has so far been initiated against senior dissident leaders whose public criticism of JKPCC president Tariq Hamid Karra had prompted the internal inquiry.
The disciplinary action followed the conclusion of the fact-finding committee's three-day visit to Srinagar in the last week of June. During its visit, the panel met more than 70 leaders, including former ministers, former legislators, JKPCC office-bearers and representatives of various frontal organisations, to gather feedback on factionalism, organisational issues and allegations of indiscipline.
The committee, headed by senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil and comprising Dr Amar Singh and Rafeek Khan, was constituted on June 12 after dissident leaders launched an open campaign against Karra, exposing deep divisions within the party's Jammu and Kashmir unit.
Before constituting the panel, the Congress leadership had, on June 9, summoned five senior Jammu and Kashmir leaders to New Delhi in an attempt to resolve the escalating internal crisis. Those called included AICC General Secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir, JKPCC president Tariq Hamid Karra, Working President Raman Bhalla, former JKPCC president Vikar Rasool Wani and former Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand.
The party leadership is now understood to be weighing the political consequences of any disciplinary action, with sources indicating that maintaining organisational unity ahead of future political challenges has become a key consideration. |
