India Matters

Congress decision to return to the hot seat of J & K has to be welcomed by one and all. The congress took three long decades to return to the government due to lack of political goodwill of the local congress leaders, the onslaught of regional political parties and the separatist movement by anti-national outfits supported from across the border. As a great national political party it should not shy away from running the state amid fears of increased terrorist activities in the state or for any other reason. Not staking claim for the CM post in its turn in the coalition government would turn against the party itself, it may alienate further away from the people who voted for the party in the last state election. The delay in the decision making is not warranted since the agreement between Congress and People Democratic Party due to the hung verdict in the 2002 election is clearly states that the first three years term for the PDP and the remaining three years for the Congress. The congress should have nominated its candidate for the post by this time anyway it is crystal clear that the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is all set to become CM of the state. One should not expect that the relief operations would be affected due to the change of guard at the state.

Congress should utilize this golden opportunity to regain its lost glory in the state by implementing various pro-peace measures, creating employment and other socio-economic measures. It is said that all the past Chief Ministers were from Kashmir valley and Shri. Ghulam Nabi Azad is the only person from Jammu region to take over the political mantle of the state. There should not be any political fall out because of this change of guard based on the region. There is nothing wrong if a person hailing from non-valley region to head the government. There is no such law stipulates that persons hailing only from Kashmir should head the government such notions detrimental to the very Constitution of the country.