Sonia may iron out differences in J&K ruling coalition
Massive security arrangements are in place for UPA chairperson Ms Sonia Gandhi’s Monday visit to Srinagar.
By Masood Hussain, TNN |
SRINAGAR: Massive security arrangements are in place for UPA chairperson Ms Sonia Gandhi’s Monday visit to Srinagar, where she is slated to address thousands of women organised by the state social welfare department. Though her visit is brief, she is likely to help the ruling coalition partners to iron out the differences.
Ms Gandhi would fly in a chopper to state helipad in Zabarwan hills, from where she would be escorted to the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Complex located on the banks of Dal Lake. Soon after the meeting, she is expected to leave, but she may have brief discussions with the party leaders and PDP president Ms Mehbooba Mufti in Nehru Guest House.
Police said elaborate arrangements are in place. The entire Zabarwan stretch is sanitised with massive deployments. No tourists were allowed to go to Cheshma Shahi, Botanical Garden and Pari Mahal on Sunday, and the restrictions would continue on Monday as well. No traffic on the Srinagar-Shalimar road would be permitted till the VVIP takes off.
Sources said the AICC president’s visit is most likely to help the ruling coalition to sort out its differences. In fact, Mrs Gandhi had rung up Ms Mufti and asked her to be available. The latter has deferred her visit abroad by a few days while her father, Mufti Sayeed, has already landed in the US.
Ms Gandhi is a staunch supporter of the ruling coalition and is keen to continue it beyond the 2008 polls. The relations between the Congress and the PDP are strained after chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad stripped PDP minister Qazi Afzal of his forests portfolio.
Though Mr Azad rejected his resignation, he is yet to offer Mr Afzal an explanation — which he has demanded — as to why his party (PDP) was not taken into confidence before taking such a move. Though his resignation is not accepted, he is yet to resume his duties as forest minister. In fact, the PDP has issued a statement saying the move was aimed at avenging the party for blocking certain decisions by vested interests in the administration that were keen to convert forest land into amusement parks and housing colonies.
Sources said Mr Azad may offer an option to strip a non-performing Congress minister of a vital portfolio as a way out to balance things, but the PDP is keen to see its minister resuming his duties.
Ms Gandhi would fly in a chopper to state helipad in Zabarwan hills, from where she would be escorted to the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Complex located on the banks of Dal Lake. Soon after the meeting, she is expected to leave, but she may have brief discussions with the party leaders and PDP president Ms Mehbooba Mufti in Nehru Guest House.
Police said elaborate arrangements are in place. The entire Zabarwan stretch is sanitised with massive deployments. No tourists were allowed to go to Cheshma Shahi, Botanical Garden and Pari Mahal on Sunday, and the restrictions would continue on Monday as well. No traffic on the Srinagar-Shalimar road would be permitted till the VVIP takes off.
Sources said the AICC president’s visit is most likely to help the ruling coalition to sort out its differences. In fact, Mrs Gandhi had rung up Ms Mufti and asked her to be available. The latter has deferred her visit abroad by a few days while her father, Mufti Sayeed, has already landed in the US.
Ms Gandhi is a staunch supporter of the ruling coalition and is keen to continue it beyond the 2008 polls. The relations between the Congress and the PDP are strained after chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad stripped PDP minister Qazi Afzal of his forests portfolio.
Though Mr Azad rejected his resignation, he is yet to offer Mr Afzal an explanation — which he has demanded — as to why his party (PDP) was not taken into confidence before taking such a move. Though his resignation is not accepted, he is yet to resume his duties as forest minister. In fact, the PDP has issued a statement saying the move was aimed at avenging the party for blocking certain decisions by vested interests in the administration that were keen to convert forest land into amusement parks and housing colonies.
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Sources said Mr Azad may offer an option to strip a non-performing Congress minister of a vital portfolio as a way out to balance things, but the PDP is keen to see its minister resuming his duties.
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