New Delhi, May 4: Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi is closely watching the scenario unfolding in Jammu and Kashmir, and has made it clear to the party leaders of the state unit that for him the party comes first, “everything else is secondary.”
“Rahul, making waves in the Indian politics by doing almost everything unconventional; staying in the houses of Dalits, visiting victims of violence unannounced, is also taking keen interest in Kashmir, and the way situation is shaping up,” highly placed Congress sources told Greater Kashmir.
In his interaction with some of the party leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, whom he described as the “guardians of the party’s interests” in the state, Rahul, according to sources, sought to know “the prevailing ground situation” in the Valley.
“He was a good listener and did not ask about any individual’s performance. He was interested in knowing the ground situation and how Congress was benefiting or not from the emerging scenario,” a top source said, making it clear that Rahul was deeply interested in the situation and the state of party and its status in Jammu and Kashmir.
“I am here to befriend the youth of Kashmir”, Rahul had said at an election rally during the parliamentary election campaigning in South Kashmir in April 2009.
Now, when National Conference-Congress coalition is in its 16th month, the pace of development, the connect with the people and the spate of agitations, from Shopian to Srinagar, Rahul is taking stock of the situation at his own level as well.
Rahul used encouraging words for the performance of the Congress leaders in and outside of the government.
Perhaps, it is a cue taken from these meetings that PCC chief Saif-ud-Din Soz is camping more in Kashmir and seeking to show that the party is vibrant.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 4 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 4 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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