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| Political heavyweights stay aloof, leaving Omar in lurch? | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
SRINAGAR, July 11 : While the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is trying hard to build back what he himself admits the 'dented' credibility of his government on present situation, some politicians, most of whom are veterans have chosen to stay aloof . While Kashmir remained in flare up for days together, these politicians from both the ruling allies, watching the scene from distance did not even deem it proper to utter a word in support, leave alone making statements on their own.
While there are many such leaders from both the parties who became conspicuous by their reticence, the absence of veterans from the 'burning picture' was too conspicuous not to be noted by the observers and analysts . Those missing from the volatile scene included finance minister Abdul Rahim Rather; Union minister, Omar's father and his party chief Farooq Abdullah(until today when he reached Srinagar) and some senior Congress leaders .Observers are attributing it to what they judge and analyse that they have reportedly scores to settle with the CM and some of them, it appears, would love to see him go.
It is no secret that Abdullah senior, was the chief ministerial candidate to the run-up to the 2008 polls but ultimately had to relinquish the post for his son. Interestingly, he has not spoken a word since the latest crises erupted, till Saturday when he suddenly deemed it proper to meet the Prime Minister and Home Minister to discuss Kashmir crisis.
Farooq, though, showed some initiative on Saturday when he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and home minister P. Chidambaram where he was told to ask Omar to take "more political steps" to bring the situation under control. Farooq was also assured that the presence of the army in Srinagar would not last for more than "two to three days". Farooq later left for Srinagar even as Omar called an all-party meeting on Monday to discuss the issue.
Omar is known for his style of working both in governance and in managing the political affairs within his own party, he having served as president of the party before it made to power again in 2008 polls.In the two trouble-torn years of his reign, Abdullah junior, for whatever reasons, has rubbed some senior National Conference (NC) leaders the and angered a section of the Congress-his ally in the government-with his style of working. Devender Singh Rana, a businessman and Omar's political adviser, has reportedly triggered Omar's alienation in the coalition. Rana was appointed Omar's political advisor in 2008, a post equivalent to a minister of state. An NC insider says Rana used his post to sideline NC heavyweights such as Rather and law and parliamentary affairs minister Ali Muhammad Sagar.
An impression has been given in the political circles as also within the governance that CM has been taking almost all decisions in consultation with Rana, avoiding stalwarts like Rather, Sagar and other senior coalition leaders, a source in the state government reveals. This has driven a wedge between Omar and his senior party colleagues, who are now apparently "not interested" in extending any help or giving suggestions on how to retrieve from the present crisis.
Rather has been camping in Jammu since his return from Dubai last week and has not made even a single statement on the latest turmoil that has hit the Valley and put the government on the edge. Rather's seniority can be gauged by the fact that he has presented 17 budgets in the assembly on behalf of the NC.
Sagar, on the other hand, has been accusing security forces of "human right violations", blaming the CRPF for the spiralling civilian deaths in the state and the worsening of the situation. Sagar's stand has been refuted by the Union home ministry. Omar rubbished it as an "individual opinion".
Apart from the NC's internal problems, sources said the Congress has been a difficult ally for Omar. Two Cabinet meetings had to be cancelled early this year because some Congress ministers did not want to vest him with exclusive powers to post deputy commissioners and SSPs in various districts. Omar reportedly got his way after meeting Sonia Gandhi during her last visit to the state. His direct access to 10 Janpath angered the state Congress leaders.
Moreover, the emergence of two power centres in the state Congress in the form of Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is reportedly eyeing the chief minister's post-hasn't helped Abdullah Junior to feel secure in his chair. As far as the police and civil administration are concerned, the Shopian crisis last year and the latest turmoil have exposed the chinks in Omar's armour.
"His grip over the administrative set-up has slackened," an official said.
Omar's blunder, he said, was not visiting families who have lost their kin, but rushing to the home ministry and the defence ministry, requesting them to rein in the paramilitary forces. "This exposed him and proved that it's New Delhi which is running the show in Kashmir and that Omar has no control over the security forces deployed on his turf," he said. Even as Omar has been doing so, New Delhi, instead of being critical of his approach and working, in return has been all through supportive. The observers and analysysts say this is imperative for New Delhi as it cannot overlook the political fallout of turmoil during 2008 land row which saw both PDP and Congress, both allies at that time falling apart and facing negative results at hustings thereafter.
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