Srinagar, Nov 27: Brewing resentment among National Conference cadres at the grassroots level seems to have rattled the party leadership which has now gone into a fire-fighting mode to placate the disgruntled cadres.
 According to the NC insiders, ministers and legislators remaining “inaccessible” and not addressing the “genuine concerns” of their workers has disappointed them. “As a fire-fighting exercise the NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah has decided to tour different areas of the state to pacify his workers,” said an insider.
 He said that NC leaders apprehend that if immediate steps are not taken, it can lead to the rebellion within the party. “Appointment and unceremonious ouster of Dr Mustafa Kamaal from top party posts within a span of one month has not gone well with the party cadres,” the insider said. “The notion about Dr Kamaal being ousted at Congress’s behest has added fuel to the fire. Party cadres have started believing that NC leadership is following the diktats from Congress and is ignoring its own rank and file.” 
 Senior National Conference leader and Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Ajay Sadhotra while talking to Greater Kashmir on phone from Jammu said, “Dr Farooq is visiting different areas to take the stock of the situation. He visited Rajouri recently and today he is in Basholi. Party president visiting remote areas to ascertain what difficulties our workers are facing is a big thing. If any discrepancies on part of ministers or legislators are brought into his notice he will take care of it.”
 NC cadres, he said, have full faith in the party leadership, but they do have expectations also. “NC leadership is capable enough to handle any issue,” he added.
 Pertinently, NC leaders from different parts of the Valley during a public meeting at party headquarters here had accused party ministers and MLAs of marginalizing workers and being “indifferent towards” them. “We are being victimized and discriminated by our ministers. They don’t have time even to listen to our genuine grievances,” one of the NC leaders had said.  
 The senior NC leader and Member Parliament from south Kashmir, Dr Mehboob Beigh said that NC in the past had always ruled the state as a single party. “Our workers are finding it hard to adjust with the coalition system as it is a new experiment. Along with the passage of time they will get adjusted and things will be sorted out,” he said.
 Dr Beigh expressed dismay over the assertions of workers that ministers and legislators are inaccessible. “They should not behave like constituency ministers but like state ministers. Even Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar have been telling them the same thing. By remaining just confined to their own constituencies they are harming the party interests,” he added.
 Dr Beigh said the ministers and legislators need to ensure that they are able to address the local issues of the people rather than not meeting them on one or other pretext.  “I am sure that everyone won’t come to them to seek jobs. We need to address the genuine grievances of the people and our grass root level workers before it is too late,” he added.       
 The Minister of state for Health Javed Ahmed Dar said that times have changed and people need to realize it. “We cannot go out of way for anyone. I believe ministers and legislators are always accessible. Only those workers have grudge against us who come to seek jobs and out of way favours. They need to realize that entire system has become transparent and it becomes very difficult for any minister to oblige them without following a proper system,” he said.
 Javed Dar, a young face of NC defeated the PDP stalwart in a neck to neck fight during 2008 assembly elections from Rafiabad constituency in north Kashmir, believes that NC workers need to change their mindset. “As far as development is concerned we are doing our best and with God’s grace we are delivering,” he added. 
 A senior NC leader wishing anonymity said that there are many reasons for NC cadres being disgruntled. “In the month of October Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had hosted  a dinner for the party workers from the Valley. NC workers reached there with the hope that it is a golden chance for them to discuss various issues concerning their areas, but they were shocked as Chief Minister stayed there for a few minutes and left. As a host he should have stayed back and listened to his people,” he added.
 Citing another instance he said, “Many people visited Chief Minister’s residence on the Eid-ul-Azha to greet him. He did meet them but he had to leave for New Delhi on the same day. Workers who arrived there bit late had to return disappointed as CM’s security closed the doors of his residence. Courtesy demanded that they should have been allowed to enter inside and someone from CM’s staff could have told them that he cannot meet anyone as he has to leave for Delhi. Shutting doors on NC workers and leaders was humiliating,” he added.
 He said NC leadership should conduct a thorough introspection before it becomes too late.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:00:00 IST