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| Azad, Soz share dais; talk of mending fences | | Cong to get portfolios back | | Basher Assad
SRINAGAR, May19: Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today reiterated that Congress will get back portfolios presently with National Conference (NC).
However, Azad was very cautious and avoided words like cabinet expansion or reshuffle in his speech at party convention here at Srinagar. Azad shared dais with Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh congress committee (JKPCC) President Prof. Saifuddin Soz, for the first time. Though bitter rivals, both looked relaxed.
Azad did not use "expansion" or "reshuffle" instead said that back to Delhi, he alongwith Soz would discuss the issue of return of portfolios, presently with National Conference with the party high command and assured that a decision to this effect will be taken soon.
Party workers were not so optimistic who kept insisting the duo to resolve their differences once for all in the larger interest of the party.
Azad, however, walked an extra mile by admitting his follies of not addressing the problems of the party workers when he was the chief minister. "I cannot escape the responsibility for not addressing the grievances of party workers when I was chief minister, may be this could be reason for disconnect" Azad said.
Azad and Soz apparently resolved to work together towards strengthening the congress party in the state and also tried to brush aside the queries from the scribes on congress factionalism but their loyalists could not believe this reconciliation move by the stalwarts. Upon why the two leaders (Soz and Azad) did not share stage or hold such conferences in the past, the two called it a mere coincidence.
"There may have been difference of opinion which was blown out of proportion. Me and Azad sahab share very good relations", said Soz adding the fact that he did not speak even a word against Azad was proof enough for people to believe him. "Presence of Azad Sahab is a proof that everything is fine between us", remarked Soz.
However, not impressed by Soz's reply, media persons repeatedly asked Azad to respond upon which he said that not sharing stage with Soz and holding separate meetings was a coincidence. "It happens in every state of the country. Congress General Secretaries and state chiefs hold separate election meetings and most of the times they don't hold them jointly", said Azad.
While responding to question on empowerment of Panchayats Azad hold the coalition government responsible and said that both National Conference and the State congress were responsible for non-empowerment of Panchayats in the state. He also insisted that non-adoption of amendments 73 and 74 was a loss to the state as it is not able to avail many schemes and funds from the central government.
"I will hold both NC and Congress responsible for this as it is the state cabinet which comprises both NC and Congress ministers which has to agree to bring these amendments in the constitution of the state", he said. He also urged coalition government to hold elections for municipalities and municipal corporations at the earliest in order to avail many schemes and funds from the central government.
Again holding state government responsible for the problems at the G.B Pant hospital here, Congress General Secretary and Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said that his ministry had sanctioned two pediatric hospitals each for Srinagar and Jammu cities but the state government has not been able to set up these hospitals.
He was responding to media person at a press conference at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention centre in connection with the congress delegates meet held Today. He also said that health being a state subject; it is the state government which is
responsible for the problems at the G.B Pant hospital.
"Health is a state subject. It is the state government and not the central government which is responsible for health care issues", Azad said. He also criticized the state government for failing to build pediatric hospitals despite the availability to resources needed for the same. "While I was Chief Minister, we had allocated 100 Kanals of land for construction of Haj house and a hospital in Srinagar, while 30 Kanals has been utilized for Haj House but the state government has not been able to build a hospital there", he remarked.
He also said that although National Rural Health Mission is a scheme for rural areas, he through his personal efforts had sanctioned an amount of Rs. 60 crore for construction of two pediatric hospitals in the state but nothing has been done for setting up the hospitals
during last two years.
"We have sanctioned an amount of 60 crore for the two hospitals for Jammu and Srinagar. Land is available, money is available for last two years, and what else can I do", he asked adding that it is the state government which is responsible for build these hospitals and no him.
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