Cong backs Soz: Need better coordination with NC

AFSPA Row * J&K Youth Cong raises demand for rotational chief ministership

Indicating growing unease in the Congress over Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullahs style of functioning,the partys central leadership today endorsed state unit chief Saifuddin Sozs criticism of the CMs stance on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

Barely two months before Omar completes three years in office,the state unit of the Youth Congress also demanded that the high command should consider rotational chief ministership in the state.

Asked about Sozs comment that the CM had not consulted the Congress before announcing his decision to withdraw AFSPA from certain areas of the state,AICC in-charge of party affairs in J&K Mohan Prakash said: He (Soz) may have his reasons for saying that. We feel that there is a need for better coordination (between coalition partners).

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When the Congress had decided to give six years tenure to Omar,there was a written agreement that the functioning of the government would be reviewed every year. Mohan Prakash,however,said there is no discussion in the Congress so far to do any such review.

Speaking to The Indian Express,Soz said: The Chief Minister has said that he will announce the withdrawal of AFSPA before the Darbar move. I agree that AFSPA or Disturbed Area Act is not a panacea but sponsored terrorism has to be fought. I also agree that normalcy is gaining ground and militancy is receding. But when AFSPA has to be withdrawn has to be decided by consensus and there has to be consultation with the (Congress-NC) Coordination Committee,the Unified Command,the Home Ministry and the Defence Ministry. No such consultation has taken place. He (Omar Abdullah) has tried to create confusion on the ground.

Shoaib Lone,who was picked by Rahul Gandhi to head the state Youth Congress,said: It is childish on Omars part to announce such a decision without consulting the Coordination Committee,the (Congress) high command,the Home Minister and the Defence Minister… As a Congress worker,I feel that if the party has to grow and improve,there must be rotational chief ministership in the state.

While Omar was said to derive his strength from his friendship with Rahul,who was instrumental in the Congresss decision to give him a full six years term,the Congress general secretary is said to be circumspect about the young CMs moves now.

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During his two-day visit to the state last month,Rahul had come face-to-face with the Congress workers disgruntlement against the Omar regime,with many of them demanding a review of the coalition arrangement with the NC.