JAMMU, Aug 7: The scales stand reversed in Jammu and Kashmir with S K Shinde heading the Union Home Ministry, and P Chidambaram inducted as Finance Minister.
Sources in the state unit of the Congress said that Chidambaram as union Home Minister used to be quite close to a number of senior National Conference leaders, including Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah. They said the rapport between Chidambaram and Omar was so sound that the former continued to support the latter's demand for withdrawal of AFSPA and troops from within the civilian areas during the time Chidambaram headed Home Ministry. The congress circles said that the equation Chidambaram had with Omar was stronger than the former had with the leaders of the state unit of the Congress. They claimed that Chidambaram had sided with the AICC general secretary, Rahul Gandhi, when the latter wanted Omar to be given more time to settle following demands for his sack during the civilian strife in 2010. Now that Shinde heads the Home ministry a number of Congress leaders, mainly from the valley, have not concealed their joy over the reshuffle on the plea that the Union Home Ministry will, now onwards, listen to their suggestions and attach importance to "our views" on security related matters.
Reports said some of the Congress leaders, quite known and close to Shinde, air-dashed to New Delhi to convey their greetings personally. The Congress leaders said that the Congress led UPA
Government will not ignore "our views" on the improving the functioning of the ruling coalition in Jammu and Kashmir. |
