Cong acts mature, lets J-K slip away

By supporting the talks, the Congress has tried to reinforce its image of being a ‘‘mature and constructive’’ Opposition party that is one with the government on national issues. This ‘‘maturity’’ also masks its failure to prevent the BJP from usurping issues, sources said.

The party’s bankruptcy on Kashmir is all the more glaring because it played a crucial role following the 2002 Assembly elections. It won more seats than the PDP but agreed to be a junior partner. That move shored up Sonia Gandhi’s image as a leader who could rise above partisan concerns. She also earned kudos for holding the Congress Chief Ministers’ conclave in Srinagar in May. That move was emulated by the Centre when it decided to hold the Inter-State Council meeting in Srinagar in August.

However, these moves have not been followed up by any coherent Kashmir policy. Instead of expanding its base in the Valley, form a Kashmir policy and step up pressure on the Centre to solve the issue, the Congress seems to have lost interest in the state altogether. Sources said the party’s state unit was only interested in ‘‘transfers and postings’’.

PCC chief Ghulam Nabi Azad hardly ever visits the Valley and though he is the convenor of the Congress-PDP coordination committee, few decisions of import have been taken in the last year.

The Congress has also set up its own Kashmir Committee to formulate a policy, but if it has a blueprint, it remains a well-guarded secret. The party, however, refuses to accept that there is anything wrong with its Kashmir policy or lack of it.

Reddy said that the Congress allowed Mufti to head the government was proof enough that it was committed to a healing touch policy. When pointed out that the party had taken little action since, Reddy said: ‘‘Even an incredible genius like Einstein could not produce a new theory every year.’’