Opposition rides piggyback on Rao’s critique of NC

Leading the Opposition charge was the fiery Congress MLA Mehbooba Mufti: “Governor Rao has his own reports of the ground level situation and must have been disturbed by the Government’s failure to cash in on the people’s disillusionment with militancy,” said Mehbooba.

Seeing little difference between the long spell of President’s Rule and the functioning of the elected Government, Janata Dal senior Vice-President for the State, Dhanraj Bargotra, said, “While it cannot be denied that the Government has restored the critical link between the rulers and the people, the headway made at the ground level through development works is inconsequential, despite the Centre providing surplus funding.”

But equally staunch was the defense put up by Minister of State for Home Ali Mohammad Sagar, who is seen to be spearheading the NC’s political offensive.

“Barring few cases, the National Conference Government has ensured a responsive administration to the people right down from the level of the patwari. In the isolation and the marginalisation of the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), the NC has a major success to show for itself,” said Sagar.

Giving a political context to the Governor’s statement, which was made in Delhi on Saturday, commentator and Chattan’ editor Tahir Mohiuddin said, “There are calculations that the NC-friendly United Front regime might make way for a BJP or Congress regime at the Centre. While the Governor’s statment rules out any question of the dismissal of the NC Government in such a scenario, he does send out a message to the high-flying Chief Minister to shed his glamourous ways. But maybe Dr Farooq’s temprament is not amenable to such counsel,” said Tahir.

However, CPM leader and MLA Yusuf Tarigami calls into question the very constitutional propriety of the Governor’s comments. “This advice could have been rendered in a manner that did not give rise to such speculation”.

Claiming that his party had lent watchful’ support to the NC Government, Tarigami said, “Too much should not be read into the Governor’s statement.

The Government has lasted more than a year, which is an achievement considering the adverse circumstances. Though, there is no denying that there is scope for improvement in the fulfillment of the expectations.”

Choosing not to offer a comment on Governor Rao’s statement, Agriculture Minister A R Rather cites the case of his own ministry to buttress the NC claim that the state of the administration is a far cry from being unresponsive. “I personally conduct quarterly review meetings of the many departments under my charge to ensure a responsive administration,” Rather said.