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| As reshuffle move gains momentum, call for KP 'representation' gets louder | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 18: With cabinet reshuffle appearing to be finally round the corner, the talk that was pushed into oblivion by the present NC led coalition government about representation of Kashmiri Pandit community in the cabinet is once again gaining momentum. In the present dispensation neither NC nor Congress so far has given representation to the minority community in the government, in contrast to the precedence in state's polity seen for decades. Top brass of Congress, sources said is having a rethinking over the aspect and is likely to give it a practical shape in the forthcoming reshuffle cum expansion exercise which will set many heads rolling down.
Sources said while a marathon of activity is going on at present in the Congress both at the local leadership level as also in consultation with the senior leaders of the party in New Delhi, the names to be inducted or the sitting ministers to be replaced have more or less been finalized. It is not going to be a simple inclusion or replacement of just one or two persons instead Congress leadership is working on a multi pronged approach to settle and finalize the much delayed exercise keeping in view key political aspects, sources said adding that it is in this context that the leadership is giving a serious thought to the yearning from certain quarters in Delhi as well that the precedence of inclusion of a Kashmiri Pandit must be included in the state cabinet , a step which political observers think would serve more than one purpose to the party in the long term.
There is also a feeling within the community that this religious minority has been living in exile and has been denied representation ever since the Congress party led the coalition in alliance with PDP in the previous coalition regime. This has been seen in contrast to the fact that the community has been getting adequate representation in the cabinet as also in the legislature since independence. The yearning of the community is also getting stronger in view of the need for continuity of linkages of KPs with Congress party in general and the Nehru -Gandhi family in particular. The political observers also see it as a much needed move in view of the eviction of the community from Kashmir Valley , the Homeland of the Pandits and the circumstances that forced them to live life of refugees across the country.
In the backdrop of this as also in keeping this fact in view that the situation is fast changing in Valley vis-à-vis accommodating the Hindu minority back to age old ethos of harmony and mutual tolerance, the party high command is giving a thought to the need of giving a practical shape to the move. Sources said certain quarters in New Delhi who matter in taking final decisions are considering the name of senior most leader Ashok Bhan for inclusion in the government. Though Bhan's name has been there as strong contender for over three years, it was pushed aside by the present government on one or the other pretext. However, his name is once again in the reckoning , particularly in the backdrop of the proposed move that reshuffle will see changes for more than three to four persons from the slots from valley, with speculations rife that at least two ministers from Valley shall have to call it day.
Apart from Ashok Bhan there is also the name of the senior congress leader Khem Lata wakhloo as on one of the contenders for a berth under Kps representation which is also being favored certain quarters in the congress at local leadership level. Though there are some lesser known party leaders associated with the congress strongly lobbying for getting included in the council of ministers but they are not in reckoning either at local level or in New Delhi . |
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