Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Sept 8: The factionalism in the Congress has once again come to fore with Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief and a senior party Minister from Kashmir valley entering into verbal spat over some party matter and the issue is going to figure before the Congress high command shortly.
During yesterday’s meeting over LAHDC Kargil issue, Pradesh Congress Committee chief and a senior party Minister from Kashmir valley entered into verbal spat after the former questioned the latter on organizing public meetings without informing the party chief in the State, sources in Congress party told EXCELSIOR.
In an obvious reference to the recent meetings conducted by the Minister in Pulwama, Sopore, Tral and Srinagar, the PCC president, according to the sources, asked the Minister to explain why he had failed to give prior information to him and obtain his consent for such meetings.
“The party chief in J&K made it clear that party Ministers will have to seek his permission before holding public meetings so that Congress workers’ presence in such functions is ensured”, sources said, adding “these remarks of the PCC chief shocked several Ministers as practically it is not possible to keep the PCC informed prior to convening each and every public meeting”.
Countering PCC chief, senior Minister from Valley, according to the sources, said, “this has never happened in the history of Pradesh Congress Committee. However, I am well informing the district presidents, as per the standing instructions of the party, prior to convening public meetings”.
Sources further said, “the Minister told the PCC chief that everybody in the Congress wants to strengthen the party and Ministers have every right to convene meetings in order to inform public about the achievements of the Government, to which Congress is a partner”. “On one side the party high command cautions Ministers against restricting their movements to own constituencies only and on the other side we are told to obtain permission before convening public meetings”, sources said quoting Minister’s remarks made in the meeting.
“I have been nurturing the Congress from the time when it was even difficult to raise the name of party in Kashmir valley and now I am being told to obtain permission before holding public meetings, which is unfortunate”, sources further said quoting the Minister, who also made it clear to the PCC chief that he would prefer to retire instead of facing humiliation.
As the Minister tried to leave the meeting, some of his ministerial colleagues intervened and got the situation defused, sources said, adding “the verbal spat between PCC chief and a senior party Minister has once again brought to fore factionalism in the party unit in Jammu and Kashmir”.
Some persons close to the senior Congress Minister from Kashmir valley said that he was planning to bring this happening to the notice of party high command on the ground that new instructions of the PCC would not help in strengthening the party in any way.
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