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| War of words intensifies between NC, Cong on statehood | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, May 2: A sharp war of words has erupted between coalition partners National Conference (NC) and Congress over the issue of the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, exposing growing cracks within the alliance. The fresh exchange comes a day after NC president and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah criticised the Congress for what he described as its “half-hearted” support to the demand for statehood. In response, the Congress on Saturday hit back, asserting that it has consistently remained at the forefront of the struggle, while accusing the NC of failing to acknowledge its efforts.
Reacting strongly to Abdullah’s remarks, the Congress said it was, in fact, the NC that had lagged behind in actively pursuing the demand. The party maintained that it has been on the streets “from day one,” intensifying its agitation across multiple platforms to press for the restoration of statehood.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Working President Raman Bhalla said the party deliberately chose not to join the government despite being a pre-poll alliance partner, in order to hold the BJP accountable for its promise to restore statehood after the Assembly elections.
“Congress has consistently raised the issue and mobilised public opinion through sustained protests under the slogan ‘Hamari Riyasat Hamara Haq’,” Bhalla said. He highlighted a series of agitations, including chain hunger strikes and campaigns such as ‘Srinagar Chalo’, ‘Jammu Chalo’, and ‘Delhi Chalo’, culminating in demonstrations at Jantar Mantar and a march towards Parliament.
Bhalla said the party’s central leadership, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, also wrote to the Prime Minister, urging him to honour the commitment of restoring statehood. These efforts, he said, helped bring national attention to what he termed as the “betrayal” of the Centre on a key promise made both in Parliament and in public.
He alleged that instead of supporting these efforts, the NC had, on earlier occasions as well, questioned the Congress’s role in the movement. “We even offered the NC leadership to lead the agitation with our full support, as this is not a Congress issue alone but a matter concerning 1.40 crore people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Bhalla said.
Taking a dig at the NC, he said statehood cannot be achieved by “occasionally praising the central government,” and questioned what concrete steps the party had taken beyond raising the issue intermittently and launching a signature campaign.
Bhalla further accused the Centre of failing to fulfil its promise of restoring statehood even more than a year after the formation of an elected government, alleging that the BJP has remained indifferent to the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He also suggested that the NC leadership was attempting to divert public resentment by targeting the Congress and the INDIA bloc instead of mounting a stronger, unified pressure on the Centre.
The political sparring follows Dr Farooq Abdullah’s recent remarks in which he expressed disappointment over what he termed as the lack of “expected vigour” from alliance partners, particularly the Congress, on the statehood issue. While reiterating his party’s commitment to the alliance, Abdullah had pointed to the absence of a cohesive and unified strategy as a major concern.
The escalating rhetoric between the two allies has raised questions about coordination within the alliance, even as the demand for restoration of statehood continues to remain a central political issue in Jammu and Kashmir. |
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