Srinagar, Jan 16: Senior Congress leader and MLC, Abdul Gani Vakil, Saturday said those talking of weak links in the National Conference-Congress coalition were weakening the cause of UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, who had resolved to restore lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
 In an apparent reference to the state Congress president, Prof. Saif-ud-din Soz—who had recently said that Congress workers were feeling discriminated against at grassroots level —Vakil said: “There are few weak-willed people who have been talking of weak links in the coalition government. We want to tell them that desperation has overtaken them which is forcing them to say one thing or the other.”
 “Those speaking out of context and making comments beyond their political space or jurisdiction are actually trying to weaken coalition whose foundations have been laid by chairperson UPA, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad,” Vakil told a party convention of block and halqa presidents here.
 “I caution them and warn them that they must know that they are playing with fire and fiddling with decisions of party high command,” Vakil said, reflecting the dissension in the party’s rank and file.
 Vakil, a former minister in the Congress-PDP coalition, said the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, was determined to bridge the gap between rural and urban areas on the economic front and carry forward development process to every nook and corner of the state.
 Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Roads and Buildings, G M Saroori, said Congress had always stood for the cause of common man and would continue to fight for it especially for those living in downtrodden and far flung areas. He appealed the people to strengthen the party at all levels.
 He said the coalition government believed in action and results on the ground. “It was Ghulam Nabi Azad who erased the stigma of being the second corrupt state of the country immediately when he took over the reins as Chief Minister,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:00:00 IST