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| Greedy Cong ministers eye R&B portfolio | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Nov 24: Congress ministers in the cabinet, headed by Omar Abdullah, are in race against one another for the sole purpose of securing the portfolio of Roads and Buildings (R&B). The R&B portfolio fell vacant after G.M. Saroori was asked to resign following the none too old scam of impersonation in the entrance examination.
Even the party sources have admitted that while some Congress ministers from Jammu and Kashmir are in touch with those who matter in the Congress high command others have been trying to keep Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, in good humour so that he could bless one among them with the R&B portfolio.
Some of these Congress ministers are seen following the Chief Minister like a shadow so that while reallocating or reshuffling the portfolios they were allotted some key departments. Surprisingly they do not know that under the coalition Dharma the portfolio to be allotted to the Congress ministers was to be decided by the Congress high command though the ultimate perogative of allocating the portfolios to the ministers was in the hands of the Chief Minister.
Party sources said that even though some of the Congress ministers have got key departments but they still eye the R&B portfolio. These sources identified Taj Mohiuddin, Minister for Irrigation, Peerzada Mohd. Syeed, Minister for School Education, Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for Health, R.S. Chib. Minister for Medical and technical education, Raman Bhalla, Minister for Revenue and Relief, who were craving for the R&B portfolio. What does it indicate ?Nothing but growing greed of the Congress.
In search of a lucrative portfolios the Congress ministers have been reduced to rubber stamps by Chief Minister , Omar Abdullah. This was indicated by the way these Congress ministers did not wag even their tails when Omar Abdullah questioned the finality of the state's accession with India. These Congress ministers adopted a passive attitude when Omar Abdullah piloted surrender and rehabilitation policy on militants during the recent cabinet meeting.
Why do the Congress ministers aspire for R&B portfolio when some of them have been tasting the fruit of heading key departments ?The reason is understandable because the R&B portfolio is considered to be a money minting agency. Reports reveal that the Congress ministers want to make hay while the sun shines and are opposed to wasting the opportunity that has come to them for ensuring their future and of their progeny. They know that by playing a second fiddle to the National Conference the Congress has dug its grave and that too in the Jammu division, which is its traditional stronghold.
Reports said that the Congress high command has not yet taken any decision on the cabinet expansion in the state. After Saroori's exit three seats are vacant, two in the Congress share and one in the National Conference. The party high command is unsatisfied with the performance of some the Congress ministers and hence it ants to wait so that it could suggest to Omar to carry out major reshuffle in the ministry.
Omar Abdullah is also not eager to fill the remaining three seats because by delaying cabinet expansion he has been able to ensure complete loyalty of the Congress legislators. These legislators hope to be rewarded with a berth in the ministry for their loyalty. |
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