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| Cracks in coalition over 'self rule' | | | EARLY TIMES REPORTER
Jammu | August 13
Despite instructions from the UPA chairperson,Ms Sonia Gandhi, that the current political arrangement in Jammu and Kashmir should not be disturbed the recent clamour of the PDP leadership for self-rule in the state has seemingly caused cracks in the coalition rule.
The Chief Minister, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, has repeatedly stated that self-rule already existed in Jammu and Kashmir and there was no need for demanding implementation of the idea of self-rule.
However, the PDP leadership does not seem to be satisfied with the observation of Mr Azad and Ms Mehbooba Mufti has even threatened to quit the working Group, set up to review the centre-state relations, if the demand for self-rule was either ignored or rejected.
In fact the PDP has adopted a resolution favouring implementation of self-rule idea for resolving the Kashmir issue. Apart from its clamour over the implementation of self-rule idea the PDP Chief, Ms Mehbooba, has even countered the Chief Minister's recent statement on the floor of the Assembly in which he had claimed that the level of human rights violations had gone down.
Ms Mufti had stated that incidents of human rights violations by the security forces had gone up. This too brought to the surface the inherent conflict between the PDP and the Congress.
Besides the congress political observers in the state are of the opinion that the continued friction of words between the two coalition partners was the result of PDP leadership's eagerness to adopt pro-people stance which could help it in the next Assembly poll.
Informed sources said that the PDP leadership was of the view that juicy slogans, which included opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road,peace with dignity,ballot and not bullet for bullet policy and rehabilitation of militants,had enabled it to win about 16 Assembly seats from the Kashmir valley which resulted in the fall of the National Conference Government in 2002.
Since most of these slogans had become outdated the PDP leadership has been in the forefront of those who have been supporting the idea of self-rule which was floated by none other than Pakistan President,Gen. Parvez Musharraf.
The sources said that Chief Minister is wary of the attitude of the PDP on the plea that the stance of the PDP did not befit a coalition partner.According to these sources,Mr Azad is so much confused over the style of functioning of the PDP that he has preferred to keep the cabinet expansion programme pending.
Though the Congress-National Conference honeymoon has been scuttled by Ms Sonia Gandhi but in case the PDP continued to adopt unfriendly attitude even Ms Gandhi may be compelled to opt for another alternative.
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