Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 29: The political 'Jugalbandi' of NC and its arch-rival PDP has put the Congress in a serious dilemma, with its leadership in a fix over the means to stay relevant if the two regional parties of Kashmir stitch a common ground for alliance.
There have been statements coming from both NC and PDP in which the two parties have almost agreed to join hands in Jammu and Kashmir to stay in power and keep the BJP at the bay. However, in the midst of such political uproar, Congress looks hell-bent upon to fish into the troubled waters. The party seems to have understood that there are least chances for it to grab power again and enjoy the luxuries at the expense of the state exchequer.
In an attempt to sail along with the flow of water, the party, uninvited though, jumped into the chorus and stated that it is going to support any effort which is aimed to keep the BJP at distance.
President, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Ghulam Ahmad Mir was on Saturday quoted by the reports as having said that his party was ready to join hands with any political party, anywhere in the country that will work for preservation of secularism. "Let them sit and discuss things. Once we feel they are serious and reach to some conclusion we will definitely support them. Mere preaching won't help, what is required is practice and action," he said.
But who needs the sinking ship like Congress? "The reality is that if the NC and PDP join hands, Congress would become irrelevant in Jammu and Kashmir's political landscape and its survival is going to become Herculean task," says a functionary hailing from the NC.
He added that the Congress is striving hard to swim with the tide and is desperate to remain with NC and PDP so that it could get a least pie of power. "The fact is that Congress is acting like a chameleon, it has no credibility left in the Centre and in the state and this party facing rout is gasping for survival," the leader said.
Senior NC leader, Mian Altaf on Friday had stated that the suggestion of NC and PDP joining hands for a joint fight on Article 35-A and against rise of communal forces in Jammu and Kashmir made by PDP senior leader and former finance minister Altaf Bukhari is a welcome move.
Forming a government and stitching an alliance with the PDP "is not an easy job but very difficult keeping in view the present political scenario in the state," he said, adding that only Omar Abdullah "can talk about forming a government in alliance with the PDP whether for Article 35-A or for fighting communal forces in the state."
Early Times has already reported that the two parties and several leaders of both the camps are holding parleys for joining hands in the state and make the joint political front against the BJP in the state. |
