Strange bedfellows

May 15, 2004

NC not to back Cong-led govt at Centre S.P. Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, May 14 The National Conference (NC) has decided not to support the Sonia Gandhi-led government at the Centre, as it would be "impossible" for its leaders to sit with the PDP of Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed. Mr Omar Abdullah, president of the NC, stated this to The Tribune over the telephone from Srinagar. The NC has won two of the six Lok Sabha seats in J&K. For the first time Mr Omar Abdullah and Ms Mehbooba Mufti, president of the PDP, who otherwise arch enemies in Kashmir will sit in the Lok Sabha. Mr Abdullah said that the NC would support the government on specific issues, including welfare of the people of Kashmir, dialogue on Kashmir by involving both factions of the Hurriyat Conference, peace initiative with Pakistan and reopening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad (PoK) road. When the Centre's measures are not in the interest of the people of J&K, we will oppose these. He said that the NC would continue to sit in the Opposition as it would not be possible for us to play the double role of supporting the Congress-led government at the Centre and opposing the Congress-backed PDP-led coalition in the state. Mr Omar Abdullah, who goes to the Lok Sabha for a third term, hoped that Mrs Sonia Gandhi, who had been talking of widening the scope of dialogue with the separatists, would invite both factions of the Hurriyat Conference for an unconditional dialogue after becoming the Prime Minister. He said that Ms Mufti has lost her voice and identity after winning the Lok Sabha election, as she would have to toe the line of the government in the house and abide by the whip of the Congress. The PDP is now being considered a part of the Congress and not an independent party. "It is a tragedy of the people of Anantnag and Pulwama districts of Kashmir whom Ms Mufti represents that she would not be in a position to raise their voice in the Lok Sabha". Steps would be taken to review why the NC could not make a dent in the South Kashmir, he said.

 

Mehbooba to speed up peace process Tribune News Service Jammu, May 14 Winner of Lok Sabha election from Anantnag in Kashmir, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, president of the PDP, would strive for expediting peace process with Pakistan and improving financial health of the state. Ms Mufti, talking to The Tribune over the telephone from Srinagar, wanted the government led by Mrs Sonia Gandhi at the Centre would expedite the peace process so that the people of Kashmir progressed. Peace has to return to the state. So much of militancy-related violence was witnessed during Lok Sabha elections. The problem should be addressed without delay so that there was further violence. She said that till now she was raising the voice of the people in the Assembly, but now she had the opportunity of highlighting the problems from a bigger platform. Unlike other states of the country, Kashmir has some historical problems that need to be solved soon. Ms Mufti said that she would also strive to improve the financial health of J&K and urge the Centre to take steps for putting back on rails the economy of the state that suffered a severe setback because of militancy. She said that she would also raise the voice for reviewing the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan that has become a hurdle in the way of tapping the water of the rivers for power generation and irrigation purposes. She congratulated the electorate of Jammu who refused to fall into the trap of the BJP that tried to exploit the Daughters' Bill in campaign. The people have rejected the BJP as they wanted to maintain identity through the Permanent Residents Bill passed in the Assembly.