Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Dec 18: Launching counter attack on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for describing him as ‘opportunist’, former Union Health Minister and All India Congress Committee leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that Omar has been proved as most opportunist during NDA and UPA regimes and he has not become ‘so big’ that Congress will be after him to form Government.
“Who was the minister in the NDA Government? Who sought support from Congress led UPA Government to become Chief Minister in the J&K for six long years ? It was not the Azad or Mufti Sayeed. It was only Omar Abdullah who enjoyed power during both regimes. If we are opportunists then he is the most opportunist,” the top AICC leader remarked while replying to a question during press conference here this afternoon.
Describing Omar as the great opportunist, Azad said they manage power with NDA and UPA for their vested interests. “We offered them support to run the coalition and even sacrificed the rotational Chief Ministership in the larger interest of the country and the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We wanted to serve the people of the State with progressive agenda and coalition was the compulsion because people had given fractured mandate,” he maintained.
Responding to the remarks of Omar Abdullah that Congress was desperately after him to frame Government in 2008, Azad said, “He has not become so tall leader that Congress will be after him to frame Government. There are many like him who always remain after us with such offers. We offered him this seat? He has run the Government on the mercy of Congress,” Azad added.
The former Chief Minister further claimed that no Government in the State was possible without Congress. He said that Congress will be the largest party and BJP will not even reach the double mark. He said that BJP leadership was expecting low polling in Kashmir Valley so as to grab some seats but high poll percentage in entire Kashmir and Chenab region has indicated that people have voted against communal forces. He congratulated the people of J&K for coming out in large number for polling with out caring for the Hurriyat dictates and with agenda of keeping communal and divisive forces at bay.
PCC president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz launching scathing attack on Omar Abdullah led Government said that his Governance was a casualty, especially in the last phase of its tenure but at the same time on the issue of possible alliance with any secular party, the PCC chief maintained that it was not permanent divorce with the National Conference.
“It is very clear that we can not go with the BJP. But the Congress keeping its interests and past `bad experiences’ in mind will go for the formation of Government with any secular party with a well defined `Common Minimum Programme’ (CMP) focusing on the Congress agenda like constitution of Regional Development Councils, Strengthening of Panchayats, BDC elections and Food Security Bill. We will wait and watch and respond to the situation after the poll results are declared,” Soz maintained.
When asked if Omar was liability and inefficient then what was the compulsion of Congress to continue support to him, Prof Soz said, “Any ‘Tuti-Footi popular Govt’ is better than Governor rule. Because we were against Governor’s rule, therefore, we continued to support to this Government despite the fact that we suffered a lot. We could not implement some of our party agendas. This Government did not work as per wishes and aspirations of the people. The governance was casualty especially in the last phase of its term. Omar did not pursue the progressive agenda of Congress Party. NC purely acted as Kashmir Centric force. Omar was reluctant to accept progressive agenda of our party. The system has gone to such a level that bureaucrat do not go in the field and meet people. Whole system of governance has crumbled and is needed to be changed,” Prof Soz maintained.
On the issue of Hindu Chief Minister being raised by one of the Congress ministers, Soz said, “Congress party’s stand is very clear on such issues. The Chief Minister can be from any religion. We do not raise such issues. It may be his own self-proclamation. But soon they will also come to know about the outcome of it. The issue of Chief Minister is the prerogative of the elected representatives and they will decide about it at the right time,” the PCC leader maintained.
On the issue of support for flood relief to J&K, Prof Soz said Modi did not help the State in any way. He paid only lip sympathy and did not release any amount for the victims. The State forwarded Rs 44,000 crore proposal for relief and restoration work but he did not release any single penny.
“Modi Govt Ne Siraf Beth Ke Tamasha Dekha Aur Kuch Nahin Kiya Flood victims Ke Liye,” Prof Soz said adding that Congress on its capacity did everything for the J&K flood victims which was possible for it. The people were befooled and BJP leaders even tried to play politics over flood victims. The BJP has taken U-turn on Article 370 and has stopped discussing the issue. The people will respond appropriately.
Referring to the allegations of Modi that they (Cong people) intrude with NC or PDP, Soz said, “We brought Sheikh Mohd Abdullah and offered Government. Even we accommodated Mufti Sayeed even when they had less number. We offered support to NC and made Omar Chief Minister. Abdullah was with NDA. We showed the essence of accommodation and it is not correct to say that we have habit of intruding. Modi should learn the history and study the past events well before saying such words,” he added.
The PCC president claimed that BJP in no way would reach the double digit and Congress will emerge as the single largest party. No Government is possible without Congress in the State.
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