Early Times Report
JAMMU, Aug 20: The Congress party will be put to litmus test in the coming days when the Cabinet meets yet again to take some vital decisions. Will the Congress Ministers participate? Defying party directions, the Congress Ministers chose to attend the previous Cabinet meeting. A senior Congress leader while clarifying the confusion said the Minister participated keeping in view the explosive situation in Kishtwar and rest of Jammu region. This clarification has redeemed the Congress pride to some extent. But the real test lies ahead.
The leadership had urged the Ministers to boycot the Cabinet meeting unless National Conference (NC) additional general secretary, Dr Mustafa Kamaal tendered an unconditional apology for his `uncalled for tirade' against the Congress.
Kamaal has not sought an apology and most likely the tirade against the Union Government, Army and the Congress leadership may continue. The Congress, therefore, has to take some vital decisions ranging from considering a breakup to calling for total boycott of the Cabinet.
However, according to political experts, Congress cannot opt for the second option. At a time when polls are fast approaching, the party cannot afford to give a free hand to the NC Ministers. .
A third option can also be considered. It (Congress) cannot risk annoying NC at this stages with the political experts predicting yet another coalition Government after 2014 elections. But in such an eventuality, the Congress may lose whatever base it has right now in Jammu region. The Jammu people have expressed serious reservations about continued Congress support to the coalition Government.
Kamaal has been issuing statements against Congress and its leadership from the very beginning. He has not even spared senior leaders like Jawahar Lal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. He launched a personal attack on PCC state Chief, Saif-ud-Din Soz calling him a `political turncoat'. "He has stabbed NC in the back", Kamaal accused Soz. |
