Congress General Secretary, Rahul Gandhi is likely to visit Kashmir next week to pacify the party workers following the differences with alliance partner National Conference over empowerment and security of panchayat members in the state.On the sidelines of his scheduled visit to inaugurate Srinagar-Ladakh tunnel, sources said Rahul will also dispel notion about the differences between him and Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah.
“Rahul Gandhi will stay in Kashmir for few days. He will interact with panchayat members besides members of youth wing of the party,” a Congress worker said.
Rahul is learned to have conveyed his displeasure to the state Congress chief, Saifuddin Soz and reportedly asked him to “stay cool” regarding panchayat issues.
Earlier, a delegation of panchayat representatives met Rahul and other Congress leaders in New Delhi.
“He appreciated our concerns and assured us all the support,” said Khursheed Malik, who led the delegation.
While some Congress leaders prefer the panchayat crisis to be sorted out locally within J&K, Rahul and his “research team” in Delhi is reported to have consoled the agitated Panchayat members and assured them that the Omar Abdullah-led coalition government would be “encouraged to take right steps in this regard”.
Rahul is scheduled to visit Kashmir in the first week of October. Sources said he will be inaugurating Rs 2700 crore tunnel between Srinagar and Ladakh.
“His speech at Ranchi was misquoted by the media. He has supported the empowerment of panchayats but not rebutted Omar. These reports and particularly the issues regarding panchayats have caused unease within the coalition,” a top Congress leader told Rising Kashmir.
“He has personally desired to visit Kashmir in order to dispel the wrong notions.”
Sources further disclosed the Rahul has been displeased with the “hasty reaction” of the state party chief Soz.
“Soz sahab is a reputed member of Congress. Rahul Ji respects him but at the same time has advised him that Congress should not allow things to blow out of proportion,” a party insider said, adding that the issues regarding empowerment and security have been studied by Rahul in detail.
Meanwhile, sources said Congress leaders in South Kashmir Saturday convened an emergency meeting of panchayat members.
“We need to build pressure because we have been striving for basic powers for the past 18 months,” said a panchayat member from Kokernag.
Even as the government has confirmed only 48 resignations, at least 800 panchayat members have published notices seeking dissociation from the panchayats.
According to sources, Rahul will also try to bridge the gap between administration and panchayat members.
“Panchayat crisis which has spread in Kashmir from the last several months will also discuss the matter with National Conference ministers and local administration,” said a reliable source.
(Rising Kashmir)
