Ahead of the upcoming Parliament and Assembly elections, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi blew hot and cold on the coalition Government in Jammu & Kashmir while attempting to mobilise a section of population to secure his party’s stakes in future.
Even as he promised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah that he would reciprocate for him in canvassing in the upcoming elections, the latter received a subtle snub on failure of the J&K Government in empowering the elected village representatives.
Gandhi held two highly restricted public meetings amid tight security in south and central Kashmir besides interacting with Congress workers in summer capital Srinagar.
Speaking to reporters at central Kashmir’s Budgam town, Gandhi said that his focus was on empowerment of women, employment of youth and strengthening of village panchayat system. Describing CM Omar Abdullah as his friend, Gandhi promised him support when he was asked as to whether he would campaign for Omar Abdullah in the upcoming Parliament elections. “Absolutely, we have a Government here together,” he said without elaborating further.
The continuation of coalition between the ruling National Conference and the Congress is a hot debate in the embattled State as factionalised Congress and incoherent NC leaders issue conflicting statements. The Opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is desperately seeking to take the centre stage and buy the favours of the Congress, the only way to keep the NC out of power in future.
Gandhi’s “friendship” statement came a few hours after he snubbed the coalition Government on failing to empower the panchayat members. In Jammu, a panchayat member had confronted him, much to the embarrassment of the State Government, on the account that since their crucial election as village representatives the Government scuttled the proposals and promises to empower them.
At lassipora in Pulwama, Omar sought to belittle the panchayat members’ observations as Opposition Panther’s Party member’s attempt to disparage the coalition Government. However, Gandhi said that whatsoever his party affiliation was, the panchayat member’s observation was not misplaced.
“Whoever was the protester (in Jammu), I think he was rightly demanding the empowerment of panchayats. I stress upon the J&K Government to adopt 73rd amendment of the Indian Constitution so that panchayats could be empowered,” he said.
The coalition partners are at loggerheads in J&K over the 73rd amendment as the NC resents the proposals on the plea that salient features of the amendment have already been incorporated in the J&K Panchayati Raj Act.
Rahul Gandhi’s meeting with members of self-help groups constituted under Umeed and Himayat programmes of the Central Government in four blocks of J&K - Khansahib, lar, Basoli and Bishnah - in June this year, was a highly regulated and pre-scripted affair. A select group of women showered encomiums on Rahul Gandhi and Omar Abdullah in their memorised speeches. Around 1,650 self-help groups have been constituted covering 16,000 households for empowerment through micro-financing.
Gandhi also interacted with Congress leaders and workers at Party headquarters on Maulana Azad Road. He held a separate meeting with a delegation of Congress workers from Kargil.
Meanwhile, Omar Abdullah dismissed speculation on the continuation of the coalition with the Congress. “We (NC) are committed partners of the UPA. We had good relations. I don’t any reason why should that (relation) change,” he said.