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| While Cong believes in “Swadeshi”, The PDP Banks on “Videshi” | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu| Sep13
Despite being a senior partner in the ruling coalition in Jammu and Kashmir the Congress ministers, barring the Chief Minister and another minister, continue to bask in “ Swadeshi” brand against the PDP enjoying its share in power by allowing its ministers to adopt “Videshi” brand.
This has become evident when Government records reveal that except for Chief Minister,Ghulam Nabi Azad and Taj Mohiuddin,Minister for Sheep Husbandry,no other Congress minister has been able to undertake a foreign tour during the last over three years in order to promote state products.
Against this PDP leaders, three of them holding a cabinet rank, have visited various foreign countries.
As chief Minister, Mufti Mohd.Sayeed,was the first to take on “Videshi” trip when he visited London and UAE during February 2005 for the promotion of sale of state handicrafts in European and Asian markets. He spent a week there and the Government incurred on expenditure of Rs.1.53 lakhs.
This was followed by Ghulam Nabi Azad who,after replacing Mufti Mohd.Sayeed as Chief Minister,visited New York,Washington,London and Brussels between September 14,2006 and September 23,2006.Mr Azad received an award from the American Federation of Indian Muslims and also addressed European parliamentarians at Brussels.The Government spend Rs.2.23 lakhs on his visit.
Taj Mohi-Ud-Din, the Congress minister visited Paris in connection with the 74 general session of OIE.He spent six days in France in May 2006 incurring an expenditure of Rs 1.37 lakhs.Mr Dilawar Mir of the PDP visited London in November 2006 in connection with the promotion of Tourism and participated in world Travel Mart.The state govt spent around Rs 59,OOO .Another senior PDP minister Abdul Aziz Zargar Itlay,Australia,Germany,Holland,Belgium ,France and UK during 2004-05 for promotion of marketable production of fruits.The visit costed Rs One lakh and was sponsored by Govt of India.Yet another PDP minister Finance Minister Tariq Hamid Qarra recently visited Brazil and London where he attended various meetings to study implementation of VAT.
Besides this PDP Patron Mufti Mohd Sayeed and PDP Chief Ms Mehmooba Mufti have visited foreign countries on several occasions.The father-daughter duo left for the United States recently. As former Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed had visited United states in September 2006 where he addressed seminars and attended meeting with think tanks on South Asia. It is not yet known whether the foreign trip of the Mufti and his daughter have been sponsored by the government or some private agency or by the party. However, when the Mufti visited the United States in September 2006 he headed the Indian delegation for which the Government of India had borne all the expenses.
Will Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad encourage Ministers belonging to the congress to undertake trips to foreign countries? The scope seems to be limited because the portfolios allotted to the Congress ministers may not provide them an opportunity to visit foreign countries. Yes, the health Minister MR Mangat Ram Sharma to some foreign countries for promoting Kashmir as a health destination for tourists
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