J&K Reshuffle: NC, Congress lawmakers react

SRINAGAR: Ruling coalition’s reshuffle in the council of ministers and re-allocation of portfolios has triggered problems in National Conference. But the two parties say “these are minor issues” and “easily manageable”.

NC’s two lawmakers who were appointed as Vice Chairmen to two autonomous boards with ministerial status have refused to accept it. Kafeel-ur-Rehman, a three-time lawmaker representing border Karnah constituency was appointed VC of the Advisory Board for Development of Pahari Speaking People. His colleague MLA Radhey Shyam Sharma representing Nowshera was appointed as Vice Chairman of Advisory Board for Development of Kissans.

Both of them have refused to take up the assignments in protest against their non-inclusion in the council of ministers. Kafeel, a well read impressive orator feels slighted for not being included in the council of ministers. Interestingly, two of his colleagues from Kupwara districts representing two segments contagious to each other were given cabinet berths.

Rehman told reporters that his non-inclusion in the cabinet was an injustice with the Pahari speaking people, who are a majority in 10 assembly segments across the state. “All these segments fall in border areas where they brave bullet for the country,” Rehman said. “I have already talked to Dr Farooq Abdullah and registered my protest.”

Rehman and Sharma will not be taking up the assignments. They were supposed to replace two party lawmakers – Mushtaq Ahmad Bukhari and Rashpal Singh. Both the lawmakers were sent to the party in the reshuffle.

Though J&K government is restricted by a constitutional amendment not to have a council of ministers more than 20 percent of the joint strengthen of the twin legislative bodies – a total of 25 ministers, the governments have been appointing its lawmakers as heads of various autonomous bodies. While there is nothing much to be done in these boards, they have ministerial status and all other amenities. J&K has eight institutions including seven boards and one permanent commission headed by lawmakers. It excludes advisors who also have similar status and positions. Post-reshuffle, the number of advisers was reduced from three to one.

But NC is not alone. Even in Congress, there was a reaction, a fierce one. Inderwal (Kishtwar) lawmaker Ghulam Ahmad Saroori, has openly asked his state party president Prof Saif ud Din Soz to resign for “weakening the party”. Saroori, a staunch loyalist of Ghulam Nabi Azad, was Works Minister and axed after the leak that his daughter appeared in a professional examination by proxy. Saroori said he was on Haj pilgrimage when he was removed and the case was transferred to the CBI. When he protested, he was assured by Omar Abdullah and Soz that he will be re-inducted once the CBI clears him. Even after he was given clean chit by the CBI, he was left out. This has angered his loyalists and by now around 600 panchs and sarpanchs from his constituency have resigned and want him to come out of Congress formally.

Insiders said Saroori was left out because, this time, Soz had the authority to decide on behalf of Congress. That is perhaps why, insiders said, a number of ministers loyal to Azad were given insignificant portfolios. These included Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Irrigation Minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Peerzada Sayeed and Nawang Rigzin Jora.