Srinagar, Jan 29: Union Health Minister and All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad Sunday blamed the state Congress leader Abdul Gani Vakil of indulging in “gross misconduct” by resorting to mud-slinging against his senior colleagues.
 Taking strong exception to the no-holds-barred tirade launched by Vakil against party colleague and cabinet minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Azad said; “It is the worst instance of gross misconduct and can’t be tolerated.”
 “It’s unfortunate. I have taken strong exception to the diatribe launched by Vakil against party colleagues, leaders and ministers,” Azad,  former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, told Greater Kashmir over phone from Guwahati (Assam).
 Known for hitting out at anybody and everybody, Vakil recently wrote a letter to his party colleague and senior Cabinet minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din about alleged corruption and mismanagement in the departments under the latter’s charge. A copy of the letter was also sent to the Congress High Command, including party president Sonia Gandhi.
 However Taj termed the allegations as “baseless” saying Vakil was a “habitual blackmailer and needs to be taught a lesson.” He also threatened to file a defamation suit against Vakil.
 Vakil was nominated as a member of the legislative council and later inducted in the council of ministers led by Azad as chief minister, albeit for a very short period. He is known for his virulent statements against not only opposition PDP but also state Congress chief Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz and other party leaders.
 Pertinently, Vakil was till recently being seen as one of the frontline members of the Azad-camp in the state Congress. The party is ridden with factionalism in the state.
 The camp led by state Congress chief Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz is openly at loggerheads with the Azad-camp while another group led by Taj Mohi-ud-Din perceived to be more close to National Conference has of late emerged as another power centre on the scene.
 Taj emerged as an independent power centre in the state Congress after he openly sided with the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on various crucial and controversial issues including the rotational chief ministership.
 While the state Congress camp owing allegiance to Soz was harping on rotational chief ministership till January 5 this year, Taj had on many occasions made it clear that there would be no rotation of the chief minister’s post in the state as he was in touch with the Congress high command and knew “what’s cooking up at 10 Janpath.”
 Taj was proved correct when Congress high command decided against disturbing Omar Abdullah after he completed three years in office on January 5 and announced that he will continue as chief minister for the full six year term of NC-Congress coalition in the state.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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