Differences between Azad, Soz wide open

Syed Ali Safvi

SRINAGAR, Apr 3: Internal bickerings among rival groups in Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee were out and wide open when union minister for health, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and former union minister and president JKPCC), Saif-ud-Din Soz came face to face at Royal Spring Golf Course here today. Both the leaders did not even exchange a single word.

According to reports, Azad arrived here yesterday on a four-day visit after a group of his loyalists in JKPCC had gone all the way to Delhi to persuade him to visit the state. He was given a warm welcome by his supporters, who blamed Soz for the internal strife within the Congress camp.

Reports said that Azad visited Royal Spring Golf Course this afternoon and played golf for some hours. Surprisingly, Soz also arrived there, but both the leaders looked annoyed with each other, and did not even greet each or exchange a single word.

JKPCC camp is split into two factions and with each passing day the divide grows deeper and wider. According to sources, Azad’s loyalists were not happy with the decisions of Soz, and they have many a time vent their anger in JKPCC headquarters, meetings, and even on streets. The Azad loyalists have even publicly castigated Soz’s decisions.

Soz’s decision of accepting Kuka Parray’s son into the party fold is believed to be Soz’s latest “misadventure” which has annoyed Azad’s loyalists.

Meanwhile, Azad’s supporters called on him at his residence here and apprised him about the happenings in the state and their grievances. They also advised him to stay in touch with the state in order to keep the Congress party “alive and kicking”. To keep himself abreast of the situation in Kashmir and within the party, he needs to visit the state off and on, they told him. Reports said that Azad assured his supporters that he would keep close eye on the happenings in the party and in the state. He also assured them that he would continue his endeavour to strengthen the party in the state.

Meanwhile, JKPCC denied the reports of any rift in the party ranks.

According to a statement issued to the press, the party spokesman said, “It has come to our notice that certain elements are feeding the media with stories reflecting differences in the Congress party on the issue relating to Imtiyaz Parray son of late Kuka Parrey joining the Congress party.

“There is no question of any differences in the Congress party on such issues. The president Prof Saifuddin Soz, takes all decisions democratically and he enjoys unequivocal support of the rank and file of the Congress party cadres, throughout Jammu and Kashmir State.”

The statement said that Soz has given a new dimension and strength to the Congress party and made it ever more relevant and stronger in an unprecedented manner.

“Some people have approached the media in the garb of Congressmen. None of these elements including one Shaheen belongs to the Congress party and none of them holds any position in the party. Our office at MA Road functions in a transparent way and anybody from the press can see the list of PCC members approved by the Congress high command. It is obvious, therefore, that none of the persons outside the JKPCC can talk on behalf of the party,” he said.