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| Cong meet turns ugly: Workers exchange blows, attack each other in front of party’s national observer | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 26: The deepening factionalism within the Jammu and Kashmir Congress erupted dramatically on Monday when two rival groups clashed during an organisational meeting, creating chaos in front of newly appointed national observer Mohan Markam.
The confrontation, marked by loud sloganeering, pushing, shoving, and even fistfights, forced the meeting to halt for some time as workers from both sides exchanged blows. Witnesses described the scene as a “free-for-all” that lasted several minutes before order was finally restored.
According to eyewitness accounts shared with The Early Times, the chaos unfolded during the first meeting of the Sangthan Srijan Abhiyan for Jammu district (rural). The meeting was chaired by Mohan Markam, former Chhattisgarh minister and ex-president of the state Congress, who was specially deputed by the party high command to streamline organisational restructuring.
However, the session barely began when supporters of a senior leader—who had earlier defected to Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) before returning to Congress—began shouting slogans objecting to the presence of a veteran party leader at the meeting. They also insisted that only residents of Jammu Rural should be allowed to attend.
This provoked an immediate response from supporters of another senior leader, who accused the protesting faction of attempting to hijack the party on behalf of individuals who had once “betrayed and backstabbed” the Congress. In a pointed swipe at Ghulam Nabi Azad, the group alleged that some workers were acting “at the behest of a leader whose sole mission is to weaken Congress in Jammu and K Factionalism within J&K Congress led to clashes between two rival groups during an organisational meeting.
The confrontation led to the suspension of the meeting for some time as workers from both sides exchanged blows.
The chaos unfolded during the meeting was chaired by Mohan Markam, former Chhattisgarh minister and ex-president of the state Congress.
Markam has been specially deputed by the party high command to streamline organisational restructuring in J&K.
The verbal duel quickly escalated into physical scuffles. Chairs were pushed aside, and workers traded punches as Markam and other leaders struggled to intervene. After several tense minutes, the newly appointed observer managed to pacify both sides and bring the situation under control.
The incident highlights the widening rifts within the Congress’s Jammu unit at a time when the party is attempting to rebuild its organisational structure ahead of upcoming electoral battles.
Meanwhile, according to an official handout issued by the party, the Congress party is in the process of revamping the party district organizational structure by infusing functional, committed, and young leadership to strengthen the Indian National Congress, said its observer Mohan Markam.
Taking to media personnel here at PCC HQ Jammu on the sidelines of the Sangthan Srijan Abhiyan (Structural Reformation Mission) Mohan Markam, former Minister and ex- president PCC Chhattisgarh said that as per the AICC decision, efforts were being made in a more transparent way to bring people who are committed to the party ideology, democracy and Constitution of India to the district congress committee leadership.
Mohan Markam, who is the observer for the process, said he would be visiting each Assembly constituency in Jammu Rural district and meet the party cadre and members of civil society.
Any person interested in becoming part of DCC can get the application form, he said. Mr. Markam said that the party would give priority to youths, people from marginalized societies, the oppressed class, and women to head the party. Besides, the AICC has decided to give more powers to the DCCs. |
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