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| Time for Congress running out | | Kishtwar episode | | MINCING NO WORDS
Neha
JAMMU, Aug 12: The gory and highly deplorable August 9 Kishtwar incident, which has been condemned by one and all and evoked sharp reaction not only in Jammu province but also across the country, was an ordinary incident. It reminds one of the situation that prevailed in Kashmir in early 1990, when one minority community migrated from the Valley almost wholesale and hundreds of families belonging to another minority community left their homes and hearts in Kashmir and migrated to Jammu and Punjab.
That the incident has outraged the people of Jammu province and other parts of the country could be seen from what has been happening in the entire Jammu province since August 9, when Kishtwar was taken over by rioters and peaceful and unarmed members of the minority community and their properties became their targets. It's curfew everywhere in the province and the outraged people are trying to violate it to come on to the roads and hold protest demonstrations against the state government of which the Congress is also a part.
The people of Jammu province are holding both the NC and the Congress responsible for what the indoctrinated and motivated rioters did to the minority community and their properties and they cannot be questioned. For, the Congress is the most crucial constituent of the government. The NC-led coalition government cannot survive even for a moment without the support of the Congress. It cannot put blame only on the NC.
JKPCC chief Saif-ud-Din Soz on Sunday did some plain-speaking in Jammu to set the record straight, but he and his colleagues, plus Congress ministers, need to do more taking into consideration the fact that the Kishtwar incident has hurt the psyche and sentiments of the minority community, which has again and again reposed faith in the Congress party. He bemoaned the decision of the government to not allow him to visit Kishtwar. One former Congress minister has demanded a judicial probe. Some other Congress leaders demanded resignation of MoS Home Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo. Fair enough.
But the question is: Will setting the record somewhat straight and demanding a judicial probe or resignation of MoS Home assuage the hurt feelings of the minority community? The situation as it prevails today across Jammu province suggests that the Congress needs to take a tough stand on the issue. In fact, the situation warrants a radical action on its part and it is withdrawal of the support to the NC-led government. Nothing less, nothing more. Only withdrawal of support to the government can help the Congress win over the outraged people of Jammu province. It is time for the Congress to assert its position and authority. Any failure on its part to do so would be only to lose its support-base in Jammu province. |
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