Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 21: Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said the Congress will play a crucial role in the formation of next Government in J&K.
“Whether anyone from the two (National Conference and People’s Democratic Party) shall remain in power or not (after 2014 Assembly elections), Congress will remain in power in coalition with any of the two,” Azad told reporters at the sidelines of a function here.
He said every political party dreams of being single largest but “I would say no party will form the Government here without Congress.”
Azad said the political situation in the State changed after 2002 Assembly elections and Congress came out as a party with options to form Government.
“I think no party can have an absolute majority in the State which stands true for the Centre as well where we are in power in a coalition. Here also three parties (NC, PDP and Congress) are going neck and neck.
“Congress had new options after 2002 – for six years we were in the Government with PDP and for the last five years we have been in coalition with NC. So Congress has become such a political party which has options,” he said.
Azad said that groupism in Army and other vital institutions of the country is major cause of concern.
While reacting to allegations against former Army Chief General V K Singh about his efforts to topple Government in Jammu and Kashmir, Azad said that it is a mere allegation and Defence Ministry is investigating it. “These are allegations, and have not been proved yet. Unless and until they are not proved they are allegations”, he added.
When asked that Army inquiry has found that the former Army chief had given money to a State Minister to topple the Omar Abdullah led Government in the State, Azad said: “It is an Army inquiry but unfortunately for the past couple of years there is groupism in Army or in various agencies which is very unfortunate.”
“First there was groupism in political parties alone and there were some institutions where there was no groupism. Unfortunately for the past two years, we have seen groupism in Army as well which is very dangerous”, said Azad.
Azad while substantiating his argument that army inquiry report on former Army chief V K Singh is just an allegation said: “It was also said that Army had gone for coup which was hair raising report. Army coup is a new thing for India. Later it proved false. It was perhaps done by someone from Army against an officer. Keeping that in view, let us not draw any conclusions and should not take this report forward unless Defence Ministry will not work on it and make any conclusion.”
Azad said that the Defence Ministry has got the report from Army. “Since this is very sensitive issue and Defence Ministry is investigating it. It is a defence matter and former Army chief is facing the allegations. The Defence Ministry is conducting the investigations carefully”, he said.
Azad described the Army report as serious issue. “I want to tell you that it is not an ordinary issue but a serious one. Whether it will be the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Assam or Uttar Pradesh, if such type of incident take place it is a serious issue. When we talk of the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, it is not the Government of Omar Abdullah only; it is a coalition Government in which Congress is a partner. Omar Abdullah is heading it but the Government is of Congress and NC”, he said.
Azad said that the Defence Ministry has to see to it that such type of incident should not take place in any part of the country.
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