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After 3 years of coalition, internal strife in NC persists
The internal strife in ruling National Conference (NC) is increasing at a time when the coalition Government is heading towards completion of three years and a section of Congress leadership is pressing for change in guard.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who struggles to cope with internal and external damages caused by controversies from custodial death of his party colleague Syed Yousuf to a failed attempt to partially withdraw Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from selected locations, is walking the tight rope. Insiders consider it a bad omen that all is not well in the ruling party at a highly crucial juncture.
The latest brawl erupted within the party when Rajya Sabha Member Ghulam Nabi Ratanpuri came down heavily on the functioning of the Government. He said that police was virtually running the State and quoted an incident when a Superintendent of Police shouted at him during a meeting. He said that Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo cautioned him that the police officer could open fire.
Ratanpuri is an old NC loyalist who was editor of the party’s now-defunct official organ Nawai Subh in 1980s before joining All India Radio. He quit Government service to formally join the party in 2010 and his proximity with Omar Abdullah made him handpicked for nomination to Parliament superseding many a seniors.
Chief Minister’s Political Advisor Mubarak Gul reacted sharply to Ratanpuri’s diatribe descrying his allegations “baseless, frivolous, absurd and bereft of facts”. He said that Ratapuri was a failed Parliamentarian and rootless politician (reminding him defeat in 2010 assembly election) who “should not have the audacity to comment on the performance of the Government”.
Ratanpuri is the latest addition in NC’s rebel voices. Earlier this month legislator Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, who is younger brother of NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah was asked to resign as spokesman and additional general secretary after he spoke against the Army and Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi. Though Kamal quit the posts, he showed no qualms in describing his nephew Chief Minister as “incompetent”.
