Srinagar, Sep 10: The political upheaval over the formation of Kargil Hill Development Council (KAHDC) is refusing to die down with nomination issue set to reach the National Conference-Congress Coordination Committee (CC) where coalition partners would lock horns over the matter. While NC claims that it has not violated any rule by nominating four members to the Council, Congress maintains that new Council won’t be formed until Chief Minister revokes the nomination order. Though NC leadership tried to neutralize the intra-coalition crisis by sending a team of senior leaders to Kargil to persuade party’s unit to withdraw the claim for leading the Council, the move, however, has not helped the party to calm down the tempers of Congress leaders. “The bone of contention is four nominations made by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to the Council, illegally and unconstitutionally. Staking claim for leading the Kargil Council and later withdrawing it is a mere drama by the NC,” said Asghar Karbalai, Congress’s face from Kargil. “Until, Chief Minister cancels the order regarding four nominations, Council won’t be formed.” Talking to Greater Kashmir, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Prof Saifuddin Soz said Congress continues to follow the principled path. “Postponement of oath ceremony of Councilors was an indication that something has to be sorted-out. Coordination Committee meeting of the coalition is going to take place soon where we will try to resolve the issue (of nominations) amicably,” he said. “I am of the firm belief that four nominations made in the name of the government where Congress is little more than its Coalition partner as we are 13 while they (NC) are 12.” He said announcing the four nominations to KAHDC was a one-sided decision. Soz also chaired a meeting of Congress ministers at Deputy Chief Minister Tar Chand’s residence here to seek fresh feedback over Kargil Council controversy. “All the ministers have extended full support to me,” Soz said. Meanwhile, a team of NC leaders led by Minister for Rural Development Minister Ali Muhammad Sagar visited Kargil and met party’s unit there. “We briefed the party leaders in Kargil to respect coalition dharma. We had gone there on the directions of NC president Farooq Abdullah. We told NC leaders there to withdraw the claim for leading the Hill Council,” said Sagar. He was accompanied Chief Minister’s political advisor, Qamar Ali Akhoon, NC provincial president for Kashmir Nasir Aslam Wani and NC Minister Feroz Khan. On whether Chief Minister would withdraw the nominations, Sagar said let the issue come in the Coordination Committee. The NC provincial president for Kashmir, however, said there was some “misunderstanding” among the party leaders in Kargil over staking claim to head the Council. “That has been sorted out. We have told them let Congress lead the Council,” he said. Pertinently, the recent CC meeting between NC and Congress leaders over the nomination issue remained inconclusive as leaders from both the parties remained adamant on their stance. NC leaders had quoted references from the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Act-1995 and maintained that four nominations made by Chief Minister were well within constitution. They had also stated that there was an arrangement that four nominations in Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council would go to Congress while in Kargil, these would rest with NC. The Congress, however, termed the decision “unethical and unconstitutional” and demanded withdrawal of nominations. Pertinently, NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah recently admitted defeat in the KAHDC polls. He, however, preferred silence over nomination issue—something that triggered the controversy within the coalition. The Hill Council results were declared on August 28 with a fractured mandate—10 seats to Congress, eight to NC, while independents had managed to bag eight seats. The total strength of the Council is 30—26 elected members and four nominations made by the government.
Posted on: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 06:05:12 +0000
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