Jammu, Jan 30: With the Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad downplaying the demand of rotational chief minister in Jammu and Kashmir, the Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Saif-ud-Din Soz Sunday said the question of the change of guard rests with the Congress High Command.
Talking to the media persons on the sidelines of a rally organised for paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary, Soz said he was an ‘ordinary soldier’ of Congress and anything on the issue is to be decided by the party high command.
 In response to his reaction to the demand of rotational chief minister, Soz didn’t specifically rule out the possibility of the change of guard, again saying that the decision rests with the party high command.
 Over the dismissal of the demand by the former chief minister of the state Ghulam Nabi Azad, Soz remarked: “Whatever Azad had said, he made the remarks in a context. I too said this in a context that these things are to be decided by the Congress high command.”
 During ‘Meet the Press’ at Jammu Press Club on Saturday, Azad had said that the rotational CM arrangement was made during the Congress-PDP government which was formed in 2002 and not in 2008.
 The demand was repeatedly being made by a section of Congress leaders who are considered to be close to JKPCC chief.
 Former deputy chief minister Mangat Ram Sharma had raised the demand last month.
 When asked about the Congress leaders’ demand favouring Soz as the next chief minister in the state, Soz said: “Despite being asked not to raise such issues, these leaders have been making statements. By the grace of God I have control over my ambitions and these statements could be an individual viewpoint of someone.”
 To a question about the separatists avoiding talks with the interlocutors, he said the separatists would be taken on board for the settlement of all issues. “There has been a standing invitation to the separatists for dialogue. They will definitely be engaged in talks. People of all the three regions, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh would also be taken into confidence to find an amicable solution to each and every problem,” he remarked.
 Earlier, Soz while addressing the rally castigated the BJP for not playing the role of a responsible opposition party and decried that it had been playing religion and caste based politics.
 He also advised the Congress workers to counter the BJP “propaganda” through “Gandhigiri”.
 Soz also announced the launch of Mass Contact Programme in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the party leaders would visit each and every constituency to highlight the achievements of UPA-I and II regimes.
 “The first phase of the mass contact programme would be for three months during which the Congress party would highlight its mission of making India a strong nation,” he said.
 Meanwhile, the Union Minister for Power, Sushil Kumar Shinde on Sunday said the Central Government is planning to construct 1000 MVA Gas or coal project at Pathankote for providing adequate electricity exclusively to the people of the state.
 “We are identifying the land at Pathankote where a gas or coal project is to be constructed for generating power exclusively for the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” said Shinde who was also present in the function.
 He further maintained that that the work on Kishenganga Hydel Power Project is under execution adding that the work on other mini and micro hydel power projects would be taken into hand shortly.
 “The people of J & K have faced lot of hardships during the turmoil. Prime Minister had directed me to take initiative to redress the problem of people related to power supply,” he said.

CHIDAMBARAM LIKELY TO VISIT JK ON FEB 3
 The Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Prof Saif ud Din Soz Sunday disclosed that the Home Minister P Chidambaram is visiting Jammu and Kashmir on his invitation on February 3.
 “The Home Minister is likely visit the state on February 3. Though he had visited the state several times, this time he is visiting on my invitation. He would sit with the people of all the three regions and hold discussions on political scenario of the state. He will review the political situation and will hold talks with various political groups in the backdrop of inputs of the interlocutors who have submitted their report to the centre,” Soz said.
 Chidamabaram’s earlier plan to visit Jammu and Kashmir had to be rescheduled because of the ‘Ekta Yatra’ (integration march) by the Bharatiya Janta Party that was foiled by the state government.
 Three interlocutors appointed by the central government, headed by senior journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, had undertaken their fourth visit of the state early this month and interacted, among others, with the leaders of the BJP and Jammu Kashmir National Panthers Party, who had earlier boycotted them.
 The other two interlocutors are academician Radha Kumar and former information commissioner M.M. Ansari.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 30 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 30 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 31 Jan 2011 00:00:00 IST