The death in custody of a National Conference (NC) worker that has cast a shadow on Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's already chequered tenure has embarrassed the Congress, a partner in the NC-led government in Jammu and Kashmir. Thus far, the Congress, conscious that the NC is an ally not just in the northern State, but also in Delhi — where Farooq Abdullah is a Cabinet Minister — has maintained its distance from this latest tragic episode: indeed, it has alternately said that “it is an internal matter of that party” and that it would wait for the results of the judicial enquiry to come in before taking a view.
But on Thursday, even as the Opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) stepped up its demand for the Chief Minister's resignation, and Dr. Abdullah came out strongly in support of son Omar, Abdul Salam Reshi, one of the two men who had accused NC broker from Bijbehara, Syed Yousuf — who subsequently died in police custody — of taking a bribe from him, told journalists in Srinagar that Mr. Yousuf was looking unwell when he emerged from the Chief Minister's residence.
This damaging revelation, if true, makes the situation tougher for the Congress to continue with “it's an internal matter” stand, given the tough line it has taken thus far with accusations of wrongdoing against its alliance partners, particularly the DMK, party sources said. And this has come on the heels of the issue of 2,156 unmarked graves in three districts of the Valley.
The current episode also strengthens the position of the local Congress unit in J and K, which has been pressing its national leadership to replace the NC as the lead party in the State when the current political arrangement completes half its tenure in December, just as it had done when it was in alliance with the PDP between 2002 and 2008.
Indeed, conscious of the State unit's position, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi maintained a strategic distance from his friend, Omar Abdullah, when he visited the Valley last month. Mr. Gandhi was, apparently, careful not to avail of of the State hospitality, even declining a dinner invitation from the Chief Minister. Instead, he asked Mr. Abdullah to join him for breakfast at the Nehru Guest House to discuss issues of governance and coalition.
Last month, Mr. Gandhi also measured his words when asked whether the State would soon see a Congress CM: “I am not here to support or oppose the Chief Minister [Omar Abdullah],” Mr. Gandhi was reported as saying, adding, “I am here to attend a meeting of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) and Youth Congress. As far as the demand for a rotational Chief Minister is concerned, it is to be decided by the party high command. I have nothing more to say on it.”
On September 13, 2010, a little over a year ago, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had said that “It was — and it remains — the intention of the UPA government to restart the…dialogue [with all sections of Kashmiri society, including the Hurriyat Conference]. The dialogue can embrace all the issues that agitate the minds of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the youth.” It had then stressed, “The dialogue can address issues such as the trust deficit and the governance deficit” — a statement that was read as direct criticism of the Omar Abdullah government.
But at that time in 2010, Mr. Gandhi, asked whether the Congress was considering reviving its former alliance with the PDP at the cost of the NC, had said: “Our government has supported Omar Abdullah. He is the elected leader of the National Conference. It is for them to take their decision. But we have to give him time and support. Omar is doing a tough and sensitive job. He should be given time and support.”
Last month, Mr. Gandhi was more circumspect. And then, a few days after the Congress general secretary returned from the Valley, this latest scandal broke. Has the time come to reconsider that unqualified support?
