Twitter
Advertisement

Kashmir & economy take lion's share of Congress time

Dr Karan Singh claimed that there was a relative calm in Kashmir before the PDP-BJP government took over, but now there is a growing confrontation.

Latest News
article-main
Former PM Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, party vice-president Rahul Gandhi and other leaders during the Congress Working Committee meeting on Tuesday
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

The crucial Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting convened by party president Sonia Gandhi here on Tuesday was aimed at discussing the upcoming presidential and vice-presidential elections and also to set a calendar for the mandatory organisational polls. Instead, the leaders took most of the time to highlight the "deteriorating" law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the "sliding" economy that they believe has hit the poor and the middle class in the country.

In her inaugural address, Gandhi took the lead by launching a blistering attack on the government for the "insensitive handling of Kashmir situation." Other leaders such as Dr Karan Singh, Ghulam Nabi Azad and P Chidambaram also spoke on the J&K situation at length. Former home minister P Chidambaram said the Centre and the state government, which were both led by the BJP, were systematically alienating and antagonising the local population, especially the youth.

Azad said that Kashmir represents the "colossal failure" of the Modi government.

Dr Karan Singh claimed that there was a relative calm in Kashmir before the PDP-BJP government took over, but now there is a growing confrontation.

It was decided that Kashmir was too important an issue for the party members to speak in different voices. The party committee that was set up under former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Kashmir will formulate a position of the party.

In another development, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said there will be a think tank of senior leaders to decide the party's stand on complex political and economic issues to prevent spokespersons speaking in different tones.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Azad said the issue of upcoming presidential polls was only briefly discussed, because the recently held joint meeting of Opposition leaders had authorised Congress president to form a small committee to work out a strategy for these polls. It is believed that just two days ago, Gandhi has formed a committee of leaders, including NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechuri, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav.

The CWC – highest decision making body of Congress – also approved a schedule for organisational elections. It was decided to complete them by October and then election of party president will be held. To a question on the fate of the resolution passed at the last CWC meeting in November 2016 asking Rahul Gandhi to take over the reins of the party, Azad said, "That was not discussed."

Dr Manmohan Singh, made an intervention to highlight the economic situation. He said the country's growth has slowed down mainly because of demonetisation and the economy is running on just one engine – of public spending. He said the private sector investment had collapsed under the Modi government and the construction industry, which is one of the largest employment generators in the country, has suffered a contraction. He pointed out that the most worrisome aspect was the negative impact on job creation.

The Congress president also raised concern that there has been a rise in 'lynch mobs', who have close ideological affinity with the ruling establishment. She said the government was using the power of the state to stifle voices that express different thoughts. "Divisive issues are being whipped up, and there is an assault on the livelihoods and food habits of those who follow different tenets and beliefs. This government is using the power of the state to stifle voices that express different thoughts and ideas, or speak out for alternative policies and philosophies.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement