Omar faces criticism from allies, opposition alike

Jammu, March 26 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir's ruling alliance has once again come under the scanner with Congress leader and union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad lashing out at the state government, led by National Conference ally, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Azad said in a rally in Bhaderwah Sunday that 'not even a stone has moved' since he left the state in July 2008. The projects, initiated during his tenure as chief minister were still in the same stage, when he left the political scene of Jammu and Kashmir, Azad said in his hometown.

Congress insiders said the open condemnation did not bode well for Omar Abdullah.

'At a time when Pradesh Congress Committee president Saifuddin Soz and his faction within the state unit of the Congress is already against Omar Abdullah's style of functioning, Azad's remarks show that somewhere the two factions in the party have converged and this is not a good sign for Omar,' said a senior Congress leader from Jammu.

'Knowing Azad, he would not have made such remarks in public which were a straight reflection on the working of the government,' one of his loyalists said.

Azad's statement also conveyed that he continued to retain interest in the goings on in the state.

Sources close to Omar Abdullah, however, said he was in a very comfortable position as he had a very good equation with the Congress leadership, particularly Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi.