Muskan Thakur
Early Times Report
JAMMU, July 29: The report submitted by the three-member fact-finding committee constituted by the Congress high command to examine factionalism and infighting within the Jammu and Kashmir unit of the party is unlikely to be acted upon, with the leadership reportedly reluctant to initiate disciplinary proceedings against senior leaders at this stage.
Highly placed party sources said the committee, after holding extensive deliberations and marathon meetings over three days in Srinagar, recommended action against some senior leaders allegedly involved in factionalism and indiscipline. However, the Congress leadership is unlikely to implement those recommendations.
“No action on the recommendations of the fact-finding panel is expected at this juncture,” a senior Congress leader told Early Times on the condition of anonymity, adding that the party high command is keen to avoid any move that could further deepen internal divisions.
The Congress had on July 2 suspended two leaders from the party’s primary membership for alleged anti-party activities. However, no disciplinary action has so far been taken against senior dissident leaders whose public criticism of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hamid Karra had triggered the internal inquiry.
The disciplinary action against the two leaders came shortly after the fact-finding committee concluded its three-day visit to Srinagar in the last week of June. During the visit, the panel interacted with more than 70 party functionaries, including former ministers, former legislators, JKPCC office-bearers and representatives of various frontal organisations, to assess complaints relating to factionalism, organisational functioning and alleged indiscipline.
The committee, headed by senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil and comprising Dr Amar Singh and Rafeek Khan, was constituted on June 12 following an open campaign launched by a section of dissident leaders against Karra, exposing deep divisions within the party’s Jammu and Kashmir unit.
Earlier, on June 9, the Congress leadership had summoned five senior leaders from Jammu and Kashmir to New Delhi in an effort to defuse the growing 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.
According to party sources, the Congress leadership is weighing the political implications of initiating disciplinary action against senior leaders, with maintaining organisational unity ahead of future political challenges emerging as a key consideration. |
