ET Report
JAMMU, Jan 20: To take political mileage in the ensuing Parliament and Assembly elections National Conference leadership is mounting pressure to implement report of Mushtaq Ahmed Ganai Committee but the State Government, fearing backlash, is hesitating to take decision on the recommendations.
Mushtaq Ahmed Ganai Committee, which was constituted in the year 2011, had recommended creation of 955 administrative units throughout the State. Congress, which is part of the coalition government, is opposing implementing "discriminatory" recommendations of Ganai Committee report because this report has ignored those areas which have been considered as strongholds of Congress party.
The entire region of erstwhile Doda district, which is now divided into three districts namely Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar, has been ignored. So Congress has reason to oppose recommendation of this report because erstwhile Doda district is backbone of Congress in the State.
Despite opposition by the Congress, ruling National Conference leaders is aggressive in demanding implementation of Ganai Committee report because party wants play it as a trump card to over-come challenge of its arch rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kashmir Valley but during the last one week neither NC nor state government is looking in hurry in implement the report.
Insiders said that state government especially ruling NC has realized that this issue has potential to backfire so enthusiasm of NC leadership has been fizzled out within a week. NC leadership, which was prepared for even breakup with Congress on this issue, now wants to avoid confrontation with its coalition partner.
NC has logic behind changing its strategy because protest demonstrations have already started in some areas of Kashmir Valley against implementation of Ganai Committee report. On the one hand, protest demonstrations have started in the Valley, while on the other hand Congress is also opposing implementation of this report so NC leadership appears to have rethinking on its earlier stand of taking confrontation with NC.
Meanwhile according to a report of local news agency, 'Save Rafiabad Movement' ((SRM) spearheading the agitation in favour of granting tehsil status to Watergam in North Kashmir Monday staged a protest in favour of their demand and threatened to start a massive agitation against the government in case Watergam town is not granted tehsil status.
People in South Kashmir's Awantipora town also came on roads demanding district status. Protestors said that they will intensify their agitation with respect to their demand.
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