2 power centres not in interest of J&K, nation: Karra

Jammu, Nov 17: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Tariq Hameed Karra Sunday said that “two power centres were neither in the interest of J&K nor in the interest of the nation as a whole.”

He was responding to media queries on the sidelines of a function organised to pay tributes to former Deputy Chief Minister late Pandit Mangat Ram Sharma on his birth anniversary, here.

“Even earlier I had stated so. I’m not aware of today’s security review meeting. Yet when the first review meeting was convened by LG Sahib, I had shared my apprehensions that an effort to create two power centres was not just against the interests of J&K but it was against national interest as well,” Karra said, in response to a query regarding security review meeting, which was chaired by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on November 17.

Query was – Many feel that it would have been more appropriate, had the elected government been taken on board during the security review meeting, what was his take on that account?

JKPCC President said, “I had even stated that it would bring J&K at a cross-road in a scenario where LG and Chief Minister would hold separate security review meetings and issue divergent directions. LG Sahib should accept the fact that transition is a reality today. So everyone must understand and realise that the time was ripe to act as per the new verdict. My request to LG Sahib would be to take a holistic and inclusive approach to this issue.”

About NC President Farooq Abdullah’s statement that BJP was targetting Congress (using Article 370) to weaken it and win polls, Karra said, “BJP’s jingoistic politics, theatrics and its divisive steps are aimed at not just weakening but the country as a whole. It is demolishing the foundation of India’s “Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb” (culture of unity in diversity). We are happy that the people are acknowledging this fact. Farooq Sahib too stated so based on facts.”

“However as far as Congress is concerned, all efforts to weaken it or finish it will never succeed. They have failed in the past and will do so in future as well. Numerically, it would have weakened or grown. Yet none can decimate Congress, its ideology,” he said.

Karra said that he had already made Congress’ stand clear on the resolution passed in the J&K Legislative Assembly and Article 370 and he was not interested in “giving more ammunition to BJP” by repeating it or adding anything to his earlier statement.