Azad, Soni to attend Srinagar meet today
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, July 2: Policy Planning Group of Congress Party on Kashmir in a crucial meeting held under the chairmanship of former Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh at Union capital today discussed the present political scenario in Jammu and Kashmir and favoured dissolution of State Assembly and early conduct of elections in the State.
The Congress Party under former J&K Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad and AICC general secretary Ambika Soni is holding an important meeting in Srinagar tomorrow morning to take stock of situation prevailing in the State and some important decisions after discussing with party Legislators, former Ministers, Ex-MLAs, Ex-MPs and other PCC functionaries.
Besides, Dr Manmohan Singh, the crucial Policy Planning Group meet on Kashmir was attended by former Finance Minister, P Chidambram, former Union Minister and veteran Congress leader Dr Karan Singh, Ghulam Nabi Azad (Leader of Oppn in RS), AICC general secretary and Incharge party affairs in J&K Ambika Soni, JKPCC president G A Mir, CLP Leader in J&K Assembly Nawang Rigzin Jora and senior Congress leader and former MP Tariq Hameed Karra. Another senior Congress leader from Jammu region and former Minister, Sham Lal Sharma, however, stayed away from the meeting.
AICC general secretary, Soni after the conduct of meeting told the media-persons that Congress party has already cleared through its senior leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad who has good understanding of J&K politics that Congress will not support any one on the formation of Government in the State. Some rumor- mongers are active these days and they are creating confusion. But as far as Congress Party is concerned, it will not have truck with any party in the State at this juncture. She claimed that no such issue was even discussed in this Policy Planning Group today.
While responding to a query, Soni said Congress wants dissolution of J&K Assembly and early conduct of elections there. A popular Government is always better than Governor Rule and this is general public feeling as well. ” The Governor Rule can be imposed for at least six months and then again process of Government formation has to begin. So, in general terms when I have cleared that Congress wants dissolution of State Assembly and early conduct of elections and Azad has also categorically cleared the Party stand, at least from now onwards, all the speculations and rumors regarding formation of Government involving Congress must come to an end,” Soni maintained.
Referring to the today’s meeting under Dr Manmohan Singh, AICC general secretary said, ” The Policy Planning Group on Kashmir today thoroughly discussed the recent developments in the J&K State, especially with regard to political crisis after pull out by the BJP from the Government. The party also discussed the works/ projects initiated by the previous UPA Government in J&K their fate and progress achieved by the new ‘Coalition’ in the State on them. The Congress is closely watching the situation and will act appropriately.”
Soni added that Policy Planning Group on Jammu and Kashmir has already visited Kashmir and Jammu and now shortly this Group would visit Kargil and Leh districts and then submit its report to the Party president, Rahul Gandhi.
In response to another question, Soni said tomorrow the Congress party is holding an important meeting at Srinagar which will also be attended by her besides senior AICC leader Ghulam Nabi Azad. She said around 100 senior PCC leaders including all the party Legislators, former MLAs/ MLCs/ MPs, former Ministers besides senior functionaries of the party will attend the meeting. The Congress leadership would discuss the way forward and other issues with the State leaders and take appropriate decision.
PCC president GA Mir, when contacted said that Congress is watching entire situation and every development in the State very minutely. It has already cleared that in no way the party will have truck with any one in the State at this stage. He said today’s Policy Planning Group meet in Delhi was held in congenial atmosphere. Dr Manmohan Singh and other top leaders discussed the political developments in J&K in detail and other issues related to law and order in Kashmir and governance in general. The major initiatives of the UPA-II Government in the J&K State also came for discussion.
Mir said, since the Committee under Dr Manmohan Singh visited Kashmir and Jammu during recent past, now it resolved to visit Ladakh region shortly and listen to the people from all sections of society in Leh and Kargil districts. He said many leaders from Ladakh and Jammu arrived Srinagar today and some senior AICC leaders including Azad and Ambika Soni are expected to attend the meeting at Srinagar on Tuesday. They are reaching tomorrow morning for the meeting which is expected to start at 10.30 am.
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