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| Are the Jammu-based Congress ministers sleeping? | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Sept 30: The Congress is at the receiving end in Jammu, not because the Congress is weak but because the Jammu-based Congress ministers, including the Deputy Chief Minister, are not asserting their position. They are simply endorsing what the unreasonable and controversial National Conference has been doing ever since it captured the office of Chief Minister. It appears their only duty is to extend unflinching support to everything that the National Conference does and decisions it takes. It would be no exaggeration to say that the Jammu-based Congress leaders are dancing to the tunes of the National Conference, thus damaging the Congress party in Jammu, its very strong support-base. No wonder the people of Jammu province are not really happy with the Congress. In fact, they are accusing the Congress of making common cause with the Kashmir-centric and separatist-friendly National Conference and harming their legitimate rights and interests. This is not good for the Congress, which needs to be strengthened in Jammu in order to controvert the pernicious influence of the National Conference and similar other Kashmir-based outfits.
Taking full advantage of the situation, the National Conference, which cannot rule the state even for a moment without the support of the Congress, is doing all that it could to strengthen its support-base in Jammu, particularly in the areas where the followers of one particular religion are in strength. Take, for example, Dachhan in Kishtwar and Mandi in Poonch. Leave aside Paisuru in Kargil district. Kishtwar, Poonch and Kargil constituencies are, it needs to be underlined, represented in the assembly by the National Conference. This just can't be a coincidence. It is a deliberate move of the National Conference to strengthen itself in these areas and jeopardize the interests of the Congress party.
The case in point is the September 28 Cabinet decision under which three new treasuries would be opened at Dachhan, Mandi and Paisuru. No objection. There is nothing wrong in it. These are far-flung areas and must be taken care of. Poonch and Kishtwar are part of Jammu province. This is not the issue. The issue is: Why three treasuries in the areas which are represented by the National Conference in the assembly and why not similar decision for other areas in Jammu province which are represented in the assembly by the Congress or by other political parties? A balance should have been maintained. It is for the Jammu-based Congress ministers to explain why did not they fight for a similar treatment to the constituencies represented by the Congress and other parties.
It is important to note that the Cabinet not only decided to open three new treasuries in Kishtwar, Poonch and Kargil, but it also exempted empty trucks from basic toll tax at Lakhanpur from October 1 to December 30 for exporting fruit from the Kashmir Valley. It is obvious that the National Conference-dominated Cabinet took this decision to benefit the fruit growers and fruit-sellers in Kashmir.
Just recall what the Omar Abdullah-led government had done to discourage the Amarnath pilgrims and outrage their religious sensitivities just before the commencement of the pilgrimage to the Holy Amarnath Shrine. It had imposed entry tax to the tune of Rs 2,000 per vehicle. In other words, each vehicle carrying pilgrims or carrying material for the pilgrims had to pay a heavy tax at Lakhanpur. This decision had created widespread resentment not only in Jammu but across the country as well, with several organizations, religious or otherwise, condemning the provocative decision of the government.
Why preferential treatment to Kashmir and why discrimination with Jammu in all matter and in every sphere, even in sphere of religion? The Jammu-based Congress minister and leaders need to assert their authority and ensure that Jammu gets what is its legitimate due. Besides, the Jammu-based Congress ministers and leaders have to establish that they are an equal partner and not subordinate to the National Conference. They have to refashion their whole approach. The people of Jammu want them to act. Even otherwise, the Congress has to refashion its whole approach taking into consideration the attack of the BJP and JKNPP on the country's premier political organization. Any failure on the part of the Jammu-based Congress ministers and leaders to assert their authority would simply help the BJP and the JKNPP to occupy the political space the Congress at present occupies in Jammu. |
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