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| NC-Congress linkages weakening | | Is 'gap' for real or a compulsive strategy? | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Jammu, Aug 22: Even as the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has lately decided to hold meeting with his cabinet colleagues every week, Tuesday having been earmarked for the purpose, the two alliance partners in the coalition government appear to be functioning as separate units , almost independently in the two regions of the state. While majority of the Congress ministers are camping in Jammu, NC ministers have for a long time stationed themselves in Kashmir. Is this gap between the allies for real or a compulsive mode due to prevalent crisis in Kashmir ?
When the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited Jammu few days back and took a round of the city after a long time he was accompanied among other by two Congress ministers during the visit. Likewise when the Health Minister Sham Lal recently inaugurated a newly constructed block of Sarwal hospital recently, he was accompanied by some NC leaders who remained present in the function. Both the recent events indicate all is well with the coalition and there is no gap, whatsoever at any level between the allies in the coalition government. Still the political spectrum is rife with speculations of widening gap between the allies at the level of functioning in the government. Is this based on facts or speculations are simply triggered by political adversaries to keep both the partners on tenterhooks and tension ?
Interestingly, the speculations about some gap between the NC and Congress were twisted by some analysts and observers to the extent of viewing the relations between Rahul Gandhi and Omar Abdullah, apparently good friends, not so thick now. This has been connected with Rahul Gandhi's recent visit to Leh to take stock of victims of flash floods and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's absence in Leh during that trip. True that this is perhaps the first time when Omar was not seen accompanying Rahul in J&K state as prior to this almost on all occasions both have shared political platform with visible proximity and closeness, beyond political affiliations. So, this cannot be the yardstick of gauging gaps, if any, developed lately between the two coalition allies. There are reasons valid as to why Omar did not accompany Rahul in Leh- one that he had visited the flood ravaged area only few days back and had to be there again on a day next day as Prime Minister Dr Mamohan Singh had to arrive there for a similar stock taking visit.
However, this cannot silence the critiques , political watchers and adversaries of the coalition who are out to seen coalition ties ripping apart. Their sense of reasoning, may be not so valid but there are reasons why look at the things so and wish it to happen it to happen that way. There is no denying the fact that at the top level - for instance at the level of senior leaders Prof Saif-u-Din Soz and NC high command the coordination and understanding is perfect. Both Omar and Farooq enjoy good rapport with Soz as far as political affiliations are concerned. But down the hierarchy, at least at the level of cabinet ministers complete rapport coupled with cohesiveness in functioning is visibly missing.
It would be no exaggeration to say that most of the Congress ministers, even the valley based leaders have distanced themselves from Kashmir crisis and their approach to things has been as if it is only NC's baby and it is their concern and job to handle it. Though some Congress ministers have been deputed for building bridges and gaps with people in various districts of Kashmir, the moot question remains have they really done the job religiously. Why is the focus of most of the Congress ministers still on non mandatory inauguration spree, at least for the time being, in Jammu while the government as whole should be busy in firefighting job cumulatively with NC , particularly. The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is under attack by adversaries for a host of reasons, should try to bring linkages of communication with Congress colleagues and get them onboard for every key matter that matters at present. Or else, the two allies are bound to be seen as functioning separately, a perception that may prove fatal for their ties. |
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