Surinsar, Nov 13: The J&K Pradesh Congress Committee chief Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz Sunday said his ‘principle of consultation among all stakeholders’ on the issue of AFSPA withdrawal ‘has been accepted all around’.
 “I don’t want to carry forward this debate. My principle of consultation (on AFSPA) among all stakeholders has been accepted all around. I have said that on such a crucial issue (partial revocation of AFSPA) there must be proper consultation,” Soz told reporters on the sidelines of a public meeting at Surinsar.
 Soz reiterated that at a particular point of time, there should be wide consultation among the stakeholders on crucial issues like revocation of AFSPA. “I think I have been understood by all quarters. I don’t want to add, I don’t want to subtract. Neither there is a need for debate nor the proposition is debatable,” Soz said, seeking an end to public debate on the AFSPA revocation.

NO FACTIONALISM
 Asked about former Chief Minister and union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s endorsement to Omar’s demand for revocation of AFSPA and differences within Congress party on the issue, Soz refused that there was any factionalism within the party.
 On Saturday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said that a decision on Omar Abdullah’s demand for partial withdrawal of AFSPA has to be discussed by those dealing with security forces in an objective way. Defence Minister A K Antony had recently said the Unified Headquarters would decide on the issue.

MISINTERPRETED ON GOVERNANCE
 The JKPCC chief also refused to comment on the Chief Minister’s statement questioning his authority to speak on behalf of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on the issue of governance in the state, saying “What he (Omar) said I don’t want to comment on that.”
 He, however, had earlier made a reference to the issue, saying his statement on the issue of governance was “misinterpreted by some” people.
 “When I raise the issue of governance it means the entire coalition government which includes the ministers of the Congress as well as the National Conference. I have been misinterpreted by some people on the issue. My words should be taken for better governance in the state,” he maintained.
 He however made a veiled attack on the Chief Minister, saying “One should be magnanimous and large-hearted (referring to Omar’s reaction on his statement). One should improve the governance in the state and we should work mutually.”
 On November 10, Omar had said that he was sure if Rahul has certain feelings about the governance in J&K, he would make them known to him. His statement came after Soz told Greater Kashmir that Rahul Gandhi was not happy with the J&K government’s performance.
 Earlier, Soz also raised the issue of empowerment of Panchayats, saying “I don’t think that Panchs and Sarpanchs have been empowered at grassroots.
 “It was Congress party’s manifesto that Panchayats would be empowered in a true manner which has yet not been done. We had been fighting for implementation of 73rd and 74th amendments in the state Panchayati Raj so that Panchs and Sarpanchs are empowered at grassroots,” Soz said.
 Stressing for implementation of 73rd amendments before the conduct of urban local bodies’ polls in the state, the JKPCC said that a direction should be issued to the administration that all the elected Panchs and Sarpanchs should be consulted for implementation of centrally sponsored schemes in the state.
 He also asked the Panches and Sarpanches to use Right to Information (RTI) Act as a “modern tool” to make administration accountable.

NO IMMEDAITE MEETING OF CC
 The PCC chief said that there was no immediate meeting of Coordination Committee of the coalition alliance. “I have not decided on the matter as of now”, Soz, who heads the Committee, said adding, “I will have to first chalk out the agenda of the meeting”.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 13 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 IST