The Hindu : 'Vested interests blocking J&K govt. formation'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 16, 2002

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Other States - Jammu & Kashmir

'Vested interests blocking J&K govt. formation'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI OCT. 15. As the logjam between the Congress and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) continues over who will lead the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party today alleged that some vested interests were trying to sabotage the smooth formation of a new government in the State.

In a letter to the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the party president, Bhim Singh, claimed that some "frustrated power thirsty bureaucrats are trying to seek invocation of Section 33 of the J and K Constitution in order to keep the democratic process locked for some time".

He urged the President to ensure that the democratic process was not "hijacked by the powers that be". The Panthers Party chief, with four MLAs in its kitty, has pledged support to a Congress-led coalition in the State.

Addressing a press conference here, Prof. Singh conjured up hopes of a "reasonable opportunity" to his party in case the National Conference, the Congress or the PDP failed to muster the support of the requisite number of MLAs to form the Government.

He said there was a "kind of crisis or obstacle" in formation of a government. A situation was sought to be created at the "behest of the North Block" where a Constitutional breakdown could be depicted in the State and, under its pretext, Section 92 of the J and K Constitution be invoked. Section 92 empowered the Governor to assume any function of the Government.

Demanding a "reasonable time" from New Delhi of even up to a month for the formation of a new government, Prof. Singh favoured exercising all options to put a coalition ministry in place that could work to end terrorism, corruption and restore people's confidence.

He was particularly harsh on the PDP leader and former Union Home Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. In his opinion, it was neither in the interest of the people of the State nor in the security of the country to name the Mufti as the Chief Minister.

His party would not extend any cooperation or enter into a coalition with a Chief Ministerial contender from the Kashmir Valley. "I have already given our letter of support to the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi. Our only condition is that the Chief Minister should be from the Jammu region and Ghulam Nabi Azad is from that region,'' he said.

Prof. Singh is leaving for Srinagar tomorrow to attend a meeting of MLAs from all parties whom he has invited for a tea party.

Asked about the possible combination he was trying to arrive at, he said the "National Conference will not be in the government".

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