Recall Vohra: Karan Singh

On the eve of an all-party meeting convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to arrive at an amicable solution to the ongoing agitation in Jammu...

On the eve of an all-party meeting convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to arrive at an amicable solution to the ongoing agitation in Jammu, sharp divisions surfaced in the ruling party with senior leader Dr Karan Singh along with two party MPs from Jammu region demanding the recall of Governor N N Vohra and taking a stand contrary to the party8217;s official line. The MPs also want the Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti, which is spearheading the protests, to be invited to the all-party meeting on Wednesday.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Karan Singh put forward a five-point formula, including the replacement of Vohra by former Army chief General J J Singh who is presently the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh. 8220;I have high personal regard for Shri Vohra, but under the circumstances I am obliged to suggest that he be considered for some other state where his administrative experience can be better utilised,8221; said his statement.

And in stark contrast to the Congress stand that the situation in Jammu was a result of violent agitation by RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal, Karan Singh was of the opinion that Jammu was witnessing 8220;a spontaneous movement8221; and 8220;outpouring of pent-up emotions over the years8221;. Udhampur MP Choudhury Lal Singh and Jammu MP Madan Lal Sharma, who met the Prime Minister on Monday evening, also echoed similar sentiments.

When pointed out that the Congress saw the Sangh Parivar8217;s hand behind the Samiti, Lal Singh said, 8220;The issue is not who is behind the curtains. The Government should talk to the people who are on the front.8221; He also demanded that the Amarnath Shrine Board, 8220;which includes all outsiders,8221; should be reconstituted and 8220;insiders like Dr Karan Singh8221; should be included in it.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi is likely to discuss the situation with her party MPs from the region on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, reacting to Vohra8217;s suggestion that he might not be averse to giving up the chairmanship of the Shrine Board, Union Minister and J038;K PCC chief Saifuddin Soz said, 8220;Perhaps Karan Singh would be eminently suitable for the post of Shrine Board chairman in that case.8221;

Karan Singh said he was not making proposals in any partisan capacity, but because he had been associated with the 8220;sacred8221; Amarnath Yatra for six decades and was chairman-trustee of the Mahadev Gir Dashnami Akhara Trust where the Chhari Mubarak of Lord Shiva resides under the care of the mahant.

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Karan Singh also suggested the name of former Chief Justice of India A S Anand for the post of chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.