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| Will Congress honour commitment on allowing NC to head coalition for six years ? | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu,February 13:-Will the congress stick to its commitment of allowing the National Conference to head the coalition in Jammu and Kashmir for full six years ?This question has assumed interest after the level of mistrust between the National Conference and the Congress within the state having increased towards the end of the first year of its completion.When in January 2009 the Congress decided to support the National Conference in the Government making it was agreed verbally that the Chief Minister,Omar Abdullah,will be allowed to head the Government for full six years. A plea for this arrangement was made by the National Conference leadership which conveyed to the Congress high command that it would be better for the Omar led Government to complete its full six years' term so that the Government was able to show results.The NC leadership had explained to the Congress high command the inherent problems that could rise once the the change of guard
had to be effected after three years as had happened when Ghulam Nabi Azad replaced Mufti Mohd.Sayeed.
Reports said that notwithstanding the fact that the centre tried to keep Omar Abdullah in good humour by conceding his demands,the latest being P.C.Chidambarams' announcement that those Kashmiri boys, who had crossed over to Pakistan occupied Kashmir for arms training,willing to return to the valley after having shun violence would be welcomed,the Congress high command does not seem to be appreciative of the system and style of functioning of the Omar led Government.Consequently,the Congress leadership does no longer wish to place all its eggs in the basket of the National Conference which is a divided house between the supporters of Omar Abdullah and those who are loyal to Dr Farooq Abdullah.Informed sources said that the Congress high command has not snapped its links with the PDP.Leaders of the two parties meet whenever the PDP patron,Mufti Mohd.Sayeed,and its Chief,Mehbooba Mufti,visit Delhi.
These sources said that when P.C.Chidambaram announced to accept the demand of Omar Abdullah who had sought a fresh policy on the surrender and rehabilitation of Kashmiri boys,who wish to return to the valley from occupied Kashmir after abandoning the path of violence it was not definitely an indication that Omar had won the battle against Union health Minister,Ghulam Nabi Azad.Azad had ridiculed Omar's plea for fresh surrender and rehabilitation policy of the Kashmiri youths who had crossed to Pakistan occupied Kashmir.Chidambaram's announcement was the result of fresh thinking of the union Home Ministry on the demand of the Mufti who had,during the last six years,favoured a Government initiative on evolving a new policy on surrender and rehabilitation of those militants who return to the valley and surrender before the security agencies.No doubt the NC leadership has started taking responsibility for the Union Home Minister's announcement on
rehabilitation policy,it is in fact the PDP leadership that should take credit for it.Mufti Sayeed deserves credit for many things,which included partial withdrawal of troops,eviction of troops from school and hospital buildings besides agricultural land and orchards.
This way the Congress led UPA Government keeps the Muftis in good humour and if the need arose the Congress may have no qualms in forging alliance with it after kicking the National conference on its shins.Informed sources said that first of all the Congress may press for change of guard after Omar Abdullah completed three years in office.Once the National Conference leadership agreed a congress leader would replace Omar Abdullah.If the NC leadership refused to accept Congress plea for change of guard the Congress could revive its ties with the PDP to form the Government.And after Azad was snubbed by Omar when the Chief Minister said that the matter of surrender and rehabilitation issue was between the state Government and the Union Home Ministry and not between the state and the union Health Ministry the Congress leader may not stomach Omar's remarks silently.(eom
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