The decision of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hamid Karra to write a strongly worded letter to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over the alleged assault on Congress MLA Nizam-ud-Din Bhat by National Conference workers indicates growing strain between the two coalition partners.
A day after Bhat, the MLA from Bandipora, alleged that he was assaulted by National Conference workers, Karra wrote to Omar Abdullah expressing his anguish and seeking the chief minister’s personal intervention in the matter.
The strongly worded letter has triggered a fresh political row between the coalition partners, with the Congress also issuing an official statement on the issue.
Karra strongly condemned the incident in Bandipora, in which Congress MLA Nizam-ud-Din Bhat was allegedly manhandled by National Conference workers led by Jalal Akbar Lone, the younger brother of Sonawari MLA Hilal Akbar Lone. He described the incident as a serious departure from democratic norms and contrary to the spirit of the alliance dharma.
“Political differences are a natural part of democracy, but there can never be any justification for intimidation or physical confrontation,” Karra said. He observed that the involvement of members of the ruling alliance made the incident even more unfortunate and raised serious concerns about mutual respect among alliance partners.
Expressing concern over the subsequent press conference held by National Conference workers to justify the incident, Karra said that any attempt to rationalise or defend such conduct only aggravates the situation and sends a disturbing message about the functioning of democratic politics.
Karra sought an impartial inquiry into the incident and demanded strict action against those responsible. He emphasised that elected representatives in the Union Territory are already functioning under a challenging dual-control administrative mechanism, making it even more necessary for all democratic forces to work together to safeguard the dignity of elected institutions.
He expressed hope that the Chief Minister’s timely intervention would help restore confidence among alliance partners and uphold the principles of alliance dharma.
Karra cautioned that any recurrence of such incidents, or any attempt to justify them, would weaken the trust and goodwill essential for the smooth functioning of the coalition and the larger democratic mandate entrusted by the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Congress MLA accuses NC workers of attacking him
On Friday, Congress MLA from Bandipora Nizam-ud-Din Bhat accused National Conference workers of attacking him during an official review meeting in north Kashmir.
The incident, which occurred in the Naidkhai area of Bandipora district, has exposed widening cracks within the NC-Congress alliance, with the Congress legislator warning that such incidents could adversely affect the coalition if immediate action is not taken.
Speaking to reporters after the incident, Bhat alleged that Jalal Akbar Lone, brother of Sonawari National Conference MLA Hilal Akbar Lone, along with his supporters, barged into the meeting venue, vandalised the premises and attempted to intimidate government officials and elected representatives.
According to Bhat, he was chairing an official review meeting to assess the progress of various developmental projects, including expenditure on a sports stadium and other works, when some participants objected to the discussion and staged a walkout.
He alleged that they later returned with a group of supporters led by Jalal Akbar Lone, forcibly entered the meeting hall, damaged doors and windowpanes, created chaos and assaulted him in an attempt to derail the proceedings.
The Congress MLA claimed that the disruption was a deliberate attempt to prevent scrutiny of developmental works and the utilisation of public funds in the block.
He alleged that he had sought details regarding the expenditure of nearly Rs 2 crore sanctioned for rural development works over the past one-and-a-half years and that the violence was intended to prevent officials from presenting records related to the projects.
“If the Chief Minister and the National Conference fail to act and rein in their workers, it will inevitably impact the Congress-National Conference alliance,” he said, adding that obstructing government work and attacking a public representative constituted a serious offence warranting strict legal action.
The alleged attack assumes political significance as it marks a rare instance in which differences between the two coalition partners have escalated beyond a war of words into an alleged physical confrontation.
The latest development has further exposed widening cracks within the NC-Congress coalition, which has witnessed increasing public disagreements between leaders of the two parties in recent weeks over a range of political and governance issues. The alleged attack on a Congress legislator has now added a new dimension to the growing unease within the alliance, prompting the Congress leadership to seek the chief minister’s direct intervention.
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