Omar slams Soz: Asks Him To Desist From Going Public Against NC

Srinagar: Asking state congress Chief Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz to desist from going public against National Conference, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday said he and ministers were keeping mum for interest of coalition in the state.
“I could say a lot but keeping coalition in mind, I am keeping mum,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of function in Rajouri.
“I think Soz sahib should also realise the responsibility that running coalition is also their (congress’s) duty,” he added.
As per reports in section of press, Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz had last week termed the alliance partner, National Conference, as ‘hurdle’ in the empowerment of Panchayats in the state.
“Soz sahib is the president of Coordination Committee and minister for Panchayat Raj Ali Mohammad Sagar is its one of the members. It would have been better had Soz sahib taken up the matter with him in the coalition meeting as to what is right and what is to be done in future,” he said, adding, “If such talks are made in public, then it would be very hard for me to hold back my ministers and workers.”
Even if Congress ‘clarified’ Soz did not called alliance partner a hurdle in empowerment of panchayats, National Conference reacted sharply and one of its leaders, Dr. Mustafa Kamal had even challenged the JK Pradesh Congress Committee to show its base in the state.
While the Congress is pressing for implementing the 73rd constitutional amendment in the state, the National Conference yesterday made clear that it can’t comprehend the demand due to article 370, conferring special status to Jammu and Kashmir.