Kharr Chaa Bood kini Khojii Chu Bood... 《《Tension》》 •••••••••○○○○○○○○○○○○○○••••••••• Not interested in pulling down government: Soz; Can’t say crisis averted: Omar Abdullah; Tara Chand, Mir Saifullah rush to Delhi ‘for final discussion’ YOGESH SAGOTRA Jammu, Jan 30: The confrontation between the coalition partners—National Conference and Congress—over the creation of new administrative units in J&K Thursday saw no end, with the latter strongly backing the Cabinet Sub-Committee report on the issue. The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah however said the “final decision” on the issue would be taken in the Cabinet meeting at Jammu on Saturday. Asserting that Congress is “not interested in pulling down the coalition government” in Jammu and Kashmir, the State Congress chief Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz strongly pleaded for taking on board the recommendations of the Cabinet Sub Committee (CSC) on creation of new administrative units in the State. “Congress is not interested in pulling down the government and my perception is that the government will run its course till the last day,” Soz told media-persons on the sidelines of a function here. Reply to a query, Soz said Congress is not adverse to creation of administrative units and the Cabinet Sub Committee, constituted by the government, has done a “very good exercise.” “When the issue comes before the Cabinet, they (ministers) are wise enough to take the correct decision,” he said. Soz also remained mum on the possible pre-poll alliance with National Conference. “After collecting feedback from all three regions of the State, the State Congress leadership has forwarded its recommendations to the party High Command. We have learned that the party cadres in all regions want to go in the polls alone.” He, however, said the final decision in this regard has to be taken by the High Command. PTI adds from New Delhi I cannot say whether the crisis has been averted, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said Thursday about the tussle with his coalition partner, the Congress, over the creation of new administrative units in the state. Omars cryptic remark came two days ahead of a crucial meeting of his Cabinet in Jammu in which a report of a Cabinet Sub-Committee on such units will be considered amidst reports that the issue had snowballed into a confrontation between coalition partners. Voicing his keenness for establishment of the units, Omar told PTI here, I only hope that this people friendly move sees the light of the day. Any decision will be taken on February 1 when the state cabinet meets, he added. Omar and his party, the National Conference (NC), are pressing for creation of 700 new administrative units for better governance, a move the Congress was said to be stonewalling earlier. However, the Congress now favours creation of as many as 2100 such units on grounds of a more equitable distribution among various regions. Speaking in the larger context of the alliance between NC and Congress, Omar asserted, We (NC) are not fair weather friends. The difference over administrative units had to be subsumed into wider discussion about the UPA and where it will go forward, Omar said, adding if the issue was resolved there should be no speculation about NCs future with UPA. TARA, SAIFULLAH RUSH TO DELHI Just two days before the State Cabinet is expected to meet here, two key members of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on creation of new administrative units in J&K Thursday flew to New Delhi “to hold final deliberations” with the Congress High Command, Greater Kashmir has learned. The State Cabinet is scheduled to meet here Saturday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take a final call on the controversial issue, which has brought the two alliance partners—Congress and National Conference—at loggerheads. Sources said the J&K’s Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, who is heading the CSC, and Law Minister Mir Saifullah, rushed to New Delhi this morning to hold “fresh and final discussions with the Congress top brass over the issue.” “The two ministers, one each from Congress and National Conference, will brief the Congress senior leaders, including AICC In-charge for Jammu and Kashmir, Ambika Soni, about the report being prepared by the CSC with regard to the creation of new administrative units. The CSC itself is holding the final round of discussion in Jammu on Friday and finalize its report,” sources told Greater Kashmir. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also in New Delhi, however said his visit to the place has “nothing to do with the ongoing issue.” “Before anyone starts imagining meetings that arent happening, Im only in Delhi to attend an award function later today,” he wrote on Twitter. Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand downplayed his sudden visit to Delhi, saying it has nothing to do with the CSC. “I am on personal visit. I don’t know that Mir Saifullah is also in New Delhi,” he told Greater Kashmir over phone. Mir Saifullah could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. It has been reliably learnt that the Cabinet Sub- Committee is scheduled to meet here Friday afternoon “to give final touches to the report on creation of new administrative units, which will be presented before the Cabinet.” The State Cabinet is expected to meet here on Saturday to discuss the CSC report, reports said.
Posted on: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 04:12:36 +0000