Mubashir Aalam Wani
Srinagar, Nov 18: The alliance between Congress and the National Conference (NC) in Jammu and Kashmir seems to be facing a rocky start, with Congress publicly questioning NC’s stance and governance approach over key issues, including Article 370 and the role of the Lieutenant Governor.
J&K Congress President Tariq Hameed Karra on Sunday accused the BJP of creating “two centers of power” in the Union Territory, warning that such a setup is not in the national interest. Karra’s remarks came during an event commemorating the birth anniversary of late Congress leader Pandit Mangatram Sharma.
His criticism followed a meeting chaired by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha with Deputy Commissioners, SSPs, and other officials to review security and development projects. Notably, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was not invited to the meeting, which has drawn criticism from Congress and other political quarters.
Karra emphasized that the Lieutenant Governor must respect the authority of the newly elected government, urging him to adopt a “holistic and inclusive approach.” He expressed concerns that diverging decisions by the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister could lead to administrative discord.
Responding to Congress’s critiques, NC President Dr. Farooq Abdullah dismissed concerns about the Lieutenant Governor’s meeting, stating, “It has been just a month since we came to power. There is no need to panic; everything will fall into place.” This measured response suggests NC’s intent to maintain cordial relations with the Centre while navigating its alliance with Congress.
However, Abdullah was also quick to rebuff PDP President Mehbooba Mufti’s criticism of NC’s perceived inaction on Article 370. He urged Mehbooba not to issue divisive statements.
Karra however, reiterated Congress’s commitment to securing statehood for Jammu and Kashmir with guarantees on land, jobs, and natural resources. He also endorsed Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s recent stance on Article 370, clarifying that while the party respects the Supreme Court’s decision on its abrogation, statehood remains a non-negotiable demand.
Karra accused the BJP of engaging in divisive politics, undermining India’s cultural and social fabric, and targeting Congress to weaken its ideology. Despite Congress’s poor performance in the recent assembly elections, Karra asserted that the party’s commitment to its ideology remains unshaken.
Meanwhile, a senior NC functionary said that there are no tensions between the alliance partners and that both the parties are committed to uphold coalition dharma. “These are the manufactured lies. There are no cracks anywhere. There could be disagreements but not the cracks. We are committed to our poll pledges and we will not backoff from any of them,” says the NC leader.
