Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 11: Open differences have surfaced among two coalition partners—National Conference and Congress on the issues of creation of new administrative units in Jammu and Kashmir and summoning of former Army chief Gen VK Singh by the Legislative Council Privilege Committee.
While Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today directly took on the Congress charging it with “creating hurdles’’ in the setting up of new administrative units, one of the Congress leaders and a Minister alleged that the National Conference was trying to take “political mileage’’ out of the issue in the year when both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections were due.
Omar in his addressing to a public meeting at Vijaypur vowed that as the Chief Minister he will keep fighting for the setting up of administrative units till he fulfills his mission.
The Chief Minister’s attack on Congress came after the latter demanded that the proposal to set up new administrative units at ground level be examined before being set up.
“Some people are creating hurdles for me in this endeavour (to set up administrative units). I know how to use what resources at which time to fulfill my mission,” Omar said without naming his coalition partner—the Congress.
“As long as I am on the chair of the Chief Minister, I promise that I will keep fighting for setting up of the units like niabats, blocks, tehsils and sub-divisions,” he declared amidst thundering applause from the massive crowd.
The CM said that a Cabinet Sub Committee (CSC) headed by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand is currently visiting various districts to check the recommendations by S S Bloeria and Ganai Commissions to set up the new units.
Omar also charged the Congress with trying to weaken NC in Vijaypur but said the massive crowd has given a fitting reply with their presence at the rally.
“Everybody is eyeing Vijaypur. The day he (Surjeet Singh Slathia) won the elections, he has been a target of political parties. (They think) Slathia should be dislodged because he has developed close rapport with the people. But your presence in larger number here is a befitting reply to all who are trying to weaken Slathia,” he said.
Omar’s attack on the Congress on delaying setting up of new administrative units came even as he had set January 15 deadline for the CSC to submit its report. After flying to all 10 district headquarters in Jammu region, the CSC today reached Srinagar.
However, a Congress leader and Minister in the Cabinet described the Chief Minister’s stand as “politically motivated’’. Pleading anonymity, he said the Chief Minister and the National Conference was trying to gain “political mileage’’ out of the issue of administrative units while the Congress stands for complete transparency before creating the new units.
“We too want creation of new units but in a complete transparent manner. We are in a no hurry. The units should be set up after the CSC submits its report after touring the entire State,’’ the Congress leader said describing January 15 deadline as “deliberate attempt to implement Mushtaq Ganai Commission report, which was blatantly biased towards Jammu region’’.
He admitted that under no circumstances January 15 deadline on submission of report can be met with as the CSC was yet to tour 90 per cent Kashmir Valley and Ladakh and then compile the data and make recommendations.
Not ruling out showdown with Congress on the issue of creation of new administrative units, a senior National Conference leader didn’t rule out the NC vying for implementation of Bloeria and Ganai Commission reports on the new administrative units as proposed by NC’s provincial core group.
The CSC comprised seven members including three each from NC and Congress. It was headed by Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader Tara Chand and have PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Sham Lal Sharma and Urban Development Minister Rigzin Jora, all Congress, Higher Education Minister Mohammad Akbar Lone, Planning and Development Minister Ajay Sadhotra and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Saifullah Mir, all NC and Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir, an associate member of Congress.
Worthwhile to mention here that Ganai Commission has recommended more administrative units for Kashmir as against Jammu region.
The senior NC leader claimed that during creation of eight new districts by then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in 2007, the PDP was opposed to the decision but Mr Azad had unilaterally announced the new districts. He didn’t rule out the National Conference going in for unilateral decision on the administrative units if the CSC report was delayed.
The issue of former Army chief Gen VK Singh being summoned again by Legislative Council Privilege Committee headed by Congress leaders and former Minister Jugal Kishore on January 22 has also snowballed into another row between the two coalition partners especially after PCC (I) chief Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz publicly stating that he was personally opposed to the summons issued to Gen Singh when he has already replied to the charges.
Sources said the Congress leaders including those in the Privilege Committee were of the view that the NC was trying to exaggerate the issue and it should be treated as closed since Gen Singh has given his reply to Legislative Council Chairman Amrit Malhotra.
However, National Conference provincial president and member of Privilege Committee, Devender Singh Rana said: “let us not confuse retired General VK Singh with the Indian Army. He is not the Army chief. He is former Army chief. I strongly believe that the privilege motion is against an individual and so far as the Army is concerned, I feel that it is the steel frame Indian democracy and his (Gen Singh’s) statement about politicians of J&K has been strongly refuted by all living former Army chief. Some people are trying to blur those lines of distinction to create confusion, which was not required’’.
However, the senior Congress leaders of the Council including those in the Privilege Committee were of the view that the NC was again trying to gain “political mileage’’ from the issue of former Army chief and the issue should be settled when Gen Singh has given his reply to Mr Malhotra.
The Congress leaders were of the view that the issue would have been settled on January 9 had an official of the Council not refused to take the letter sent by Gen Singh. They opined that the Council official had allegedly spoken to a NC leader before refusing to take the letter.
Mr Malhotra has already ordered an inquiry into refusal of one of the Council officials to take the letter after speaking to someone on phone. The official has not been identified so far.
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