Srinagar, Nov 15: The likely emergence of the Third Front on Jammu and Kashmir’s political scene has evoked sharp response from ruling coalition partners, National Conference and Congress. NC termed it as “another ploy” to divide the state’s people, while Congress believes that any such move would prove a damp squib.
Senior NC leader Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal described the proposed move as an attempt to “divide the people of Kashmir.” “Some forces are working overtime to ensure that no single party comes to power in JK. The likely emergence of the Third Front is a part of that ploy,” Kamaal told Greater Kashmir.
Such Fronts, according to Kamaal, have no “past, present or future.” “During past 60 years many such Fronts propped and perished,” he said.
Without naming anyone, Kamaal said, “It is unfortunate that some forces want to make Valley based parties weak. They want to dominate Kashmiris and for that they are finding ways and means.”
Kamaal, who was recently asked to quit the posts of NC chief spokesman and additional general secretary for his remarks on Army and Rahul Gandhi, said, “People who will become a part of the proposed Third Front will be no different from separatists. The separatists claim that they represent a common cause but the irony is that they cannot tolerate each other and don’t even share common platform. Even if the Third Front comes into existence, its leaders will part ways within a short span of time.”
Kamaal, who represents the Hazratbal constituency in the Legislative Assembly, said that Kashmiris are politically mature and nobody can take them for a ride.
Senior vice-president of the state Congress Muzaffar Parray believes that Third Front will be a failure. “They won’t be able to achieve much as there is lot of difference between the emotional politics and principled politics. Our party has always said that Kashmir is an integral part of India and all the development which has taken place here has been due to the funds allocated by the Centre,” said Parray.
“We have never raised any question on JK’s accession with India. This is called principled politics. Our party has succeeded in building its voter base all through the years after lot of hard work and dedication. It won’t be easy for any Front to emerge and influence the voter base,” Parray added.
He claimed that Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee has become a “force to reckon with” under the command of its chief Prof Saiffuddin Soz. “Any Front will have to prove its worth before the people and it won’t be an easy job,” he said. “Recently held Panchayat elections have proved how strong the Congress is.”
Parray said that no party can form the government in Jammu and Kashmir without the support of Congress. “Our party has played and will continue to play a crucial role in political arena of the state,” he added.
However, the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) downplayed the likely emergence of the Third Front. “It will hardly make any difference. We welcome any such move,” the PDP spokesman Naeem Akthar said, but he was quick to add that success of any political party or the Front depends entirely on the voters.
Pertinently, hectic efforts are on in Jammu and Kashmir to float a Third Front. “The Front is likely to comprise the mainstream political leaders who share common agenda and can give a tough competition to National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party and Congress in 2014 assembly elections.”

Lastupdate on : Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:00:00 IST