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| Ignored by CM, Karra, Bukhari engage in verbal fight | | | Hyder Ali
Early Times Report
srinagar, Apr 4: On a day when PDP president Mehbooba Mufti was sworn in as the first woman Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, it was an open fight between party MP from Srinagar Tariq Hameed Karra and MLA Amira Kadal Altaf Bukhari.
It started with Karra spilling the beans over his reservations with the PDP and why he skipped the oath-taking ceremony despite being present in Jammu.
Karra said he actually boycotted the swearing-in ceremony of the new Government to protest induction of Haseeb Drabu and Naeem Akhter in the Council of Ministers.
"I have boycotted the swearing-in-ceremony. During the discussion on finalisation of Council of Ministers, I had certain reservations (over the induction of three PDP MLAs-Altaf Bukhari, Naeem Akhter and Haseeb Drabu) which I had put before the party chief in the first meeting in Srinagar," Karra said.
"If you want to come with the same faces, a wrong message will go. Those three PDP MLAs, who are responsible for Mufti Government's failure, were collaborators in back-stabbing him (Mufti)," he told reporters.
Karra hit out at the trio and said that "if you continue with them, you are keeping the option of back-stabbing open".
He said that during his first meeting with Mehbooba, he had put forward his reservations over their inclusion in the Council of Ministers and she had asked him to come, sit and analyse.
"She promised me that if you are not satisfied with my decision, that I am doing something wrong, do not come to my swearing-in-ceremony," he said adding "I am convinced that you are doing something wrong and I will not be coming tomorrow".
"There is no introspection (on her part). After debacle, introspection does take place, she has not done it, she is keeping 'snakes up her sleeves', he said.
Though Karra remained tightlipped on what transpired yesterday evening, sources said Karra walked out of a crucial meeting when he found Drabu's name figuring in the list of Ministers.
Karra has been of the opinion that Drabu could not do justice with his previous assignment as Finance Minister and was "grossly responsible for the injustice with the business community and other flood victims" who ultimately opposed the alliance.
Karra also opines that Drabu did "injustice with Jammu by imposing tax on the pilgrimage on the Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage apart from unilateral fuel tax hike to please Nagpur."
While Karra spoke his heart out, Bukhari didn't stay behind. It turned out to be clash of titans.
In the evening Altaf Bukhari openly lambasted Karra and posted his statement on his Facebook wall.
Former R&B Minister Syed Altaf Bukhari who is otherwise known for his sober language said Karra was a chameleon. "He is a chameleon. He has been changing colours since the day BJP-PDP coalition was formed last year in the State. I have nothing personal against Tariq Karra. I respect him as a senior but the way he has been changing colours is utterly disgraceful," Bukhari said.
When asked about the reasons behind him being dropped in Mehbooba's Cabinet, Bukhari said he has family relations with the Muftis and that it was only this relation that made him to contest elections in 2014 and registering triumph. "It is the prerogative of the Chief Minister to choose the Cabinet. I respect the decision of Mehbooba Mufti and have no grudges at all. My being the Minister or not would not affect my association with the PDP. I would continue to strive for strengthening it," he said.
Bukhari who like Karra has a strong following in Srinagar and was party's poster boy in 2014 Assembly elections maintained that he would continue to work for the overall development of Srinagar and would not allow anyone to ignore the summer capital at any cost.
"I can assure you that no one can afford to ignore Srinagar. We will act as the pressure group for Srinagar's growth and development. We will not vanish but will keep fighting for Srinagar- this much I can assure you with certainty."
However the other two leaders Drabu and Naeem, who were equally bashed by Karra remained conspicuous for their silence.
Political analysts don't rule out a foul play by Akhter and Drabu towards Bukhari. "If Karra Sahib had differences with three leaders, why only one of them has been dropped from the list whereas others including Naeem who was close friend of Bukhari in all activities has been given Ministerial portfolio," said a political analyst.
Insiders said some middle-rung officials, who in the past have been known to have changed loyalties among PDP Ministers played mischief again.
"How can one person be loyal to Karra, Beigh, Drabu and Akhter at one point of time when they have been ideologically poles apart. The party must clip wings of such black sheep officials as in the past also they conspired to create wedge between senior PDP leaders and the party high command only for pitty gains including illegal promotions and favorable postings," the sources said.
They said such officials had been leaking news from one group to another only to create distrust within the party leadership. "It's because of such mischief mongers that dirty linen of this respectful party is being washed in public," said a party leader, adding "it is high time for the party leadership to take corrective measures and give examplenary punishment to the blacksheep who have minted fortunes out of mischiefs." |
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