Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 21: There was scuffle between Congress leaders twice today as All India Congress Committee general secretary and in-charge of Kashmir affairs Ambika Soni, arrived in Srinagar to attend the Pradesh Congress Committee meeting at SKICC tomorrow.
The first incident of slapping happened at the waiting longue of International Airport, Srinagar when senior Congress Minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din allegedly slapped Congress Member Legislative Council (MLC) Ghulam Nabi Monga. However, both Taj and Monga denied the slapping.
Sources said that Taj asked Monga how a local politician from Uri, Qazi Mohammad Sheikh, who had joined the Congress today only, was made member of the JKPCC. “Monga told Taj that it is a party decision and who was he to ask him”, sources added.
Sources said that Monga’s alleged harsh tone irritated Taj who slapped Monga in presence of several party Ministers. “In return Monga abused Taj leading to scuffle between the two and it was Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand who intervened”, sources added.
Taj while sharing details of the incident with Excelsior said that there was heated argument between the two but denied slapping Monga. He said that he raised the issue of making Qazi who is from his Uri constituency as JKPCC member.
Taj said that Qazi was yet to resign from NC and questioned about his inclusion in JKPCC. “There are several workers waiting to become JKPCC member from Baramulla and a person who joined Congress today was made the member”, he added.
The minister said that he raised the issue with senior party leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ambika Soni. Sources said that some Congress leaders are raising the issue at JKPCC meeting tomorrow.
Monga told Excelsior that the decision to make Qazi JKPCC member was a party decision. He denied that Taj slapped him. He, however, said that his behaviour was arrogant.
Sources said that PCC (I) chief Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz is going to raise the issue with Party President Sonia Gandhi and General Secretary Rahul Gandhi.
In the meantime, reports said that former MLC Mohammad Amin Bhat slapped a Congress worker Gulam Qadir of Anantnag who was trying to get inside a room where Ambika Soni was meeting Congress workers at Guest House No. 2 at Sonwar. Qadir is believed to be close associate of Congress president Saif-ud-Din Soz.
Sources said that Ghulam Qadir was stressing to meet Ambika Soni at Guest House No 2 in Church Lane where she was meeting the Congress workers. There was heated argument between the two as large numbers of workers were struggling to meet Ambika Soni during which Bhat allegedly slapped Qadir.
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