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| Difficult time for Cong, coalition in crisis | | Resolution on Guru | | Rustam
JAMMU, Sept 21: As mentioned yesterday, the NC seems to have taken calculated risk hoping that the acceptance of and discussion on the private member's bill seeking mercy for Afzal Guru might help it retrieve the ground it has over the period lost to the PDP, which has carved out for itself a constituency in the Valley through rabble-rousing and extreme stances. The real trouble is for the Congress. It basically represents in the assembly a nationalist constituency, which is essentially confined to Jammu province and the cold-desert Ladakh, although it has at regular intervals sided with the NC and allowed it conduct itself in the manner it liked.
One can cite here umpteen instances to prove that the Congress has not really done anything to satisfy its nationalist constituency. It's no wonder that the Panthers Party, which has also not done wonders in the Jammu's political arena and exposed inconsistencies in its political behaviour, ridicules and dismisses the Congress as the "B-team" of the NC and holds the Congress (and the BJP) responsible not only for the neglect of Jammu province but also for messing up things in the state by following the diktats of the NC. That the Congress has at no point of time countered the Panthers is a proof that the former has nothing whatever to say in its defence.
The situation has reached the point where most of the Congress leaders, particularly those belonging to Jammu province, hold themselves aloof from the general public. Visit the party headquarters, located at always busy Residency Road, Jammu, anytime and you will find it deserted or you will see a couple of Congress leaders whom nobody in Jammu even recognizes and a poor person who looks after the party office. Yes, the JKPCC office-bearers do assemble at the party headquarters on such occasions as birth anniversary, death anniversary, condolence meetings or when some bigwigs visit Jammu to take stock of the affairs of the Congress party or on some official work. And, that's all. Besides, the Congress seldom issues any statement on the burning issues in Jammu and Kashmir. Most of the Congress leaders are so mortally afraid.
But right now the situation in the state is such that the Congress will have to take this side or that side or to support or oppose the controversial bill when it comes up for discussion in the assembly. There are reports that the bill could be taken up for discussion on September 28. The Congress cannot remain neutral. It has to take a clear stand on the issue. If it finally decides to oppose the bill under pressure from below or under some political compulsions (read the outraged Jammu sentiment as well as the party interests at the national level), it will lead to a situation that could cause an irreparable damage to the coalition; it could even collapse and it should collapse considering the contradictions between the two coalition partners. The fall of the government would be a good riddance.
And, in case the AICC president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi ultimately decide to go whole hog with the NC, the local Congress leaders, including ministers, particularly those belonging to Jammu province, will lose their face; they would surely become objectives of ridicule and contempt. And, the possibility is that the frustrated, isolated, desperate and roundly criticized Congress central leadership could suggest a middle path: Abstain from voting. But this tactic would not work. It would also trigger strong protests against the local Congress leadership. It would make the position of the Congress in Jammu province all the more untenable.
The moral of the story is that it is a very difficult time for the Congress party. It has to choose between the NC and the national interest. Let's see which option the Congress exercises on the D-day. (Concluded) |
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