Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Nov 19: Former Union Minister and All India Congress Committee general secretary and in-charge J&K State, Ambika Soni today said that BJP’s `Mission 44+’ in J&K State will prove big failure and its leadership has also started realizing this fact and now they have started joining hands with even those people against whom they continued to speak for the last several decades.
Addressing a joint press conference along with former Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and PCC chief Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz here this evening, AICC general secretary said that over enthusiastic BJP leadership much earlier than the announcement of J&K Assembly elections, had started carrying castles in the air, with the claim to secure over 44 seats in the elections in the State. But, now after feeling the heat, especially in Kashmir Valley, where the party is unable to get even suitable candidates, its leaders are now desperate and have started realizing that this Mission 44 plus was just imaginary.
“The saffron party and its RSS cadre people, who always spoke against the people and opposed them in last several decades, have now started making proximity with them and joining hand to manage power. They have now started playing communal card and dividing people. They know that Mission 44 Plus is impossible and out of frustration they have now started pulling out people from homes and installing in different constituencies with their no sufficient background, giving assurance them just to contest, we will manage the funds and other things,” Mrs Soni maintained.
Referring to the track record of Congress Party, Soni said that Congress is a secular party and it never believes in dividing people on communal lines. She said J&K is sensitive border State and it is dangerous to play such divisive politics here just for the sake of vote bank. Congress led Government during 2006-2008 proved its efficiency by ensuring fast track development, responsive governance and bringing transparency in system.
Commenting on refugees’ issue Ambika Soni said that it was in the agenda of the manifesto of Congress Party in 2002 and 2008 elections and it is again there in 2014 party manifesto. The Congress Party exerted pressure on the alliance partner NC and managed to get approved the package in the State Cabinet. It was forwarded to the Centre as committed by the previous UPA Government but it is unfortunate that Modi led BJP Government at the Centre has now put the package in the cold storage. By doing so, the BJP leadership stood exposed, she added.
Coming down heavily on BJP leadership, former Union Minister and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said that this time, not only BJP but NC and PDP are also building castles in the air. Congress will never make hollow slogans. Party believes in development and delivering good to the public. Congress led regime has proved its potential by providing good and responsive governance and fast track development during short stint of two and half years between 2006 and 2008.
” Our agenda is good governance, total transparency, work culture and equitable development of all the three regions of the State. We brought the corruption to freezing point during that short stint and finished many projects by executing works in double shift. We want to deliver and restore the same governance and complete the unfinished tasks,” Mr Azad maintained.
Replying to a question, Mr Azad said, “Coalition is compulsion and can never be an ideal form of Government. Delhi is the worst example of such coalition. Due to compulsions the Congress as per its commitment could not hold BDC and District Council elections. The Panchayati Raj system could not be fully strengthened due to non-cooperation from alliance partner. It will be top priority of the Congress to ensure the BDC and District Council polls,” Azad added.
Referring to the Food Security Bill, Azad said this Bill has been implemented in most of the States in the country but unfortunately it could not be implemented so far in J&K. Through this 75% people of the State could have been benefitted but due to lack of support from coalition partners it could not be implemented here. The poor people are supposed to get wheat for Re 1 per kg and Rice for Rs 2 per kilogram under this Bill.
Describing return of comprehensive package of PoK and other refugees by the BJP led Government as unfortunate, Mr Azad said that BJP was playing politics over the issue. He said Congress ministers and other leaders after four years of struggle managed to exert pressure on NC and get the package cleared. Even one of the ministers resigned on the issue. Azad said there was no point in combining the issue with the West Pakistan refugees. It was just plea to turn down the package and befooling refugees who are struggling for the last five-six decades.
In response to yet another question, Azad alleged that BJP was engineering polarization in Jammu region while PDP and NC in Kashmir region. They are exploiting people on communal lines. It is dangerous to play with the fire in the sensitive state like J&K which has its border with Pakistan and China. The big threat to the poll process in the State is from such parties which are polarizing situation for their vested interest and exploiting people on communal lines. The Election Commission must take cognizance of it, he added.
When asked whether he is Chief Ministerial candidate, Azad said, “It hardly matters who will be the Chief Minister, he , Soz Sahib or somebody else. Congress never declares such things in advance. Let the poll results come and things will be cleared.”
On the party decision to keep him and Prof Soz out of contest, he said they were assigned the duty to campaign.
PCC chief Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz said that BJP leaders are making Article 370 an issue during polls. It is already settled case. He said Article 370 is irrevocable and can not be changed. They ( BJP) also know it very well but still they are harping on it just to befool the people.
When asked with whom Congress will make alliance if it turns out to be largest party, Soz said, “Party would not go with the BJP it is very clear but this issue will be decided after the poll results are declared. It is number game, let us wait and watch.”
On the issue of Hindu Chief Minister as declared by one of Congress ministers, Soz said J&K is Muslim majority State but this issue would again be decided by the elected MLAs. “Let us leave the decision on them,” PCC chief maintained.
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