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| Congress told to oppose PRD Bill in state legislature | | | Early times Report
Jammu, Mar 13 :-The state unit of the Congress has decided to oppose the Permanent resident Disqualification bill in the legislature tooth and nail.
Informed sources said that the confusion among the Congress ministers over the Bill had been cleared after the party high command urged the state unit which shares power with National Conference to oppose the bill. Sources said the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, had conveyed in writing to the Congress ministers not to oppose the introduction of the Bill in the Legislative Council. "Once the bill is introduced it would be referred to a select committee for detailed discussions ", Omar is believed to have assured the Congress ministers.
The bill, sources said, shall be opposed by the Congress minister who had earlier either facilitated its introduction or remained silent. The Congress high command, sources said, has instructed the PCC Chief, Saif-ud-Din Soz, to direct the Congress members in the two Houses of the state Legislature not to support the Bill.
It may be recalled that the Bill caused commotion in the entire country when the state legislature adapted the Bill several years ago. The situation was then pacified by the state High Court which ruled against the spirit of the Bill.
The Congress high command seems worried over the reports that indicate the Bill had started triggering regional and communal tension in the state.
The Congress has little options as far as this Bill is concerned. Having already supported the Women's reservation Bill in the parliament, it cannot support the permanent Resident Disqualification Bill which encourages breeds gender inequality.
The Congress high command, sources indicate, seems prepared to ensure rejection of the Bill even if it meant loss of power. The party has learnt many lessons during the 2008 Amarnath land row. A senior party leader said that its alliance with the PDP during the initial stages of the land row had cost it dearly. "The Congress won 1`7 seats in the last elections against 27 in 2002 polls", he said.
Reports suggest that the National Conference leadership too was watching the developments cautiously. With the Congress deciding to oppose the Bill, the controversial legislation is destined to fail. BJP and the Panthers Party have already opposed the Bill.
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