JAVAID MALIK
Srinagar, Oct 30: A day after Minister of Irrigation and PHE, Taj Mohiuddin claimed that there would be no rotation of Chief Minister after Omar Abdullah completes three years in power January next year, senior Congress leaders rebuffed his claim on Sunday saying the decision over the issue is “high commands prerogative.”  
 Talking to Greater Kashmir senior Congress leader and Health Minister Shyam Lal Sharma said, “It seems it was Taj Sahibs own opinion and he issued that statement in his personal capacity.”
 Sharma said the issue of the rotational chief ministership was “still open” and Congress high command would take a final call on it. “Any statement in this regard should come from the JKPCC Chief or the party leaders in New Delhi,” he added. 
 Another Congress leader and Revenue Minister, Raman Bhalla, seconded Sharma saying, “Whatever Taj Mohiuddin said hardly matters for us. The decision over the issue of rotating the Chief Minister has to be taken by the party high command in New Delhi. We will stand by the decision taken by the party leadership.” 
 Taj Mohiuddin on Saturday had said there would be no rotation of Chief Minister. “I can vouch that Omar will continue to be the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir for full term of six years. I am in touch with the party (Congress) high command (in Delhi) and I can tell you with authority that there would be no change of guard in the coalition government after three years.”
 General Secretaries of the Pradesh Congress Committee, Vinod Sharma, Vinod Mishra, Maheshwar Singh, Ashok Sharma and Anil Chopra in a joint statement lambasted Taj. “He (Taj) should know that to take a decision on such a crucial issue is the prerogative of the party high command and not his. Whatever will be the decision of the party high command over the issue will be acceptable to the party rank and file,” they said. "It would be better for him to set his own ministry right which is not properly functioning as in most areas people are suffering from water scarcity."
 Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the Congress spokesperson, Muzaffar Ahmed Parray took on Taj Mohiuddin for “contradicting” the Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Professor Saifuddin Soz over the issue of revocation the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from a few areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
 Pertinently, Soz had castigated the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah for making a "unilateral statement on AFSPA" and had expressed dismay over Omar not consulting Congress before making the announcement about revocation of AFSPA from selected areas of the state. However, Taj had said that Chief Minister had talked to him over the revocation of AFSPA before making the statement.
 “It is unfortunate that Taj Mohiuddin contradicted the JKPCC Chief Prof Saifuddin Soz on the question of AFSPA. He (Taj) should know that Soz is clear on this question and he enjoys support of the entire party in the JK” Parray said.
 “Taj should know that he is seen in the public as a person who promotes National Conference at the cost of Congress party. He is also seen as a person who enjoys the public perception of being more loyal than the king. It is for him to decide whether he has any moral right to continue in the Congress,” Parray added.
 Reacting to Parray’s allegations Taj told a vernacular news agency KNS “Chief Minister talked to me over the revocation of AFSPA before making the statement. As a cabinet colleague he talked to me and I gave my opinion as a minister. I didn’t represent Congress that time,”
 “As Chief Minister Omar Abdullah can discuss any issue with any of his senior minister before taking it into the cabinet,” he added.

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