Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Nov 4: Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz today predicted a Government of coalition with Congress in Jammu and Kashmir after the forthcoming Assembly polls even as he admitted that the party’s experience with National Conference was not satisfactory.
“Our experience of coalition with National Conference was not satisfactory as we had to fight for all the major issues in Congress poll promises,” he said while talking to media persons at the party headquarters, here today.
However, he hastened to add that Congress did fulfill the promises made with people of Jammu Kashmir on 73rd Amendment, one time settlement package to PoK refugees, formation of new Administrative Units, constitution of OBC Development Board etc notwithstanding the hurdles.
“And now we are going to seek vote on the basis of our performance in coalition Government and will secure maximum seats emerging as single largest party in the Assembly elections,” he said and predicted that no other party would be in a position to form next Government in J&K without the support of Congress.
Apparently projecting himself as pro-Jammu, Prof Soz reminded that he had supported Dogra certificate issue and property inheritance right to J&K women even after their marriage outside the State. “Congress party has always respected the urges and aspirations of Jammu people on all issues,” he said and informed that the party manifesto was also being released very soon with a focus on balanced development of all three regions of the State.
Replying to a query, the PCC president claimed that there was no Modi wave in Jammu Kashmir but Modi factor. “However, this factor will have no impact on Assembly polls in Jammu Kashmir where Congress is strong enough and vibrant in all three regions of the State,” he said. Further claiming that Modi has only propaganda but no substance, Prof Soz said that Congress could not compete with BJP in recent elections because of certain weaknesses at the organizational level and lack of resources.
Prof Soz also criticized People’s Democratic Party chief patron Mufti Mohd Sayeed over the latter’s purported remark on Gujarat model. He said it was very unfortunate that Mr Mufti failed to judge Narendra Modi who has two prisms of seeing the different communities in India.
In response to another query on alleged difference between Ghulam Nabi Azad and Soz over selection of Congress candidates for Assembly elections, the PCC chief termed such media stories as bogus and claimed that there was consensus in the party.
“Myself, Ambika Ji (Ambika Soni) and Azad Sahib are on the same page and working objectively with consensus on all the issues, including selection of candidates,” he said and added that final list of the Congress candidates would be announced very soon.
“There were never any differences between me and Azad Sahib and both of us have decided not to contest the Assembly polls for sparing ourselves to campaign vigorously for all candidates as in other case, we would remain stuck to only our respective constituency, “he explained and informed that both of them were going together for canvassing in Rajouri.
In response to another query, Prof Soz defended Robert Vadra over the issue of latter’s alleged misbehaviour with a mediaperson and said that the law would take its own course on the land dispute and reporter should have avoided persistent questions.
The PCC chief also reiterated his stand on alleged criticism of Army over the killing of two civilians in firing at Budgam yesterday and said that such mishap could have been avoided had the Armymen first fired shot to burst tyres of the vehicle as warning to the victims.
Earlier, Prof Soz addressed a meeting of senior functionaries of PCC frontal heads and Congress district presidents of Jammu province and exhorted the party cadres to expose the communal and divisive agenda of BJP as well as other such parties on the eve of Assembly elections. He said once the party candidates are announced the Congress cadres should put in all efforts for the success of the party.
“The issues of Border residents, Refugees from PoK and 73rd Amendment to Panchayats have remained high on the agenda of Congress and finally it was achieved in the Coalition,” he said and added that numerous achievements of the Congress party at the Centre and in the State Coalition must be highlighted to expose the false propaganda of BJP and other parties in the elections.
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