Inquiry Panel Effect: Congress Rebels in J&K Shift to Wait-and-Watch Mode

The warning issued by the party high command appears to have yielded encouraging results, as dissidents in the Jammu and Kashmir Congress have suspended their activities "for the time being".

Instead of holding parallel functions in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir, the dissident leaders are now meeting central party leaders and reiterating their faith and loyalty to the Congress.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Vikar Rasool Wani, who is leading the dissident camp, shared photographs on social media of his meetings with senior party leaders.

A day after All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal announced the constitution of a three-member panel, Wani met Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

Wani briefed Kharge on the prevailing political situation in Jammu and Kashmir and discussed various organisational matters concerning the functioning of the Congress party in the Union Territory.

Sources within the Congress said that, fearing disciplinary action, dissident leaders have suspended all their planned political activities, including a series of rallies scheduled to be held across the Jammu region this month.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a senior Congress leader told the International Business Times that the dissident group had planned to organise public meetings and rallies in different districts of Jammu to demonstrate its support base and political strength.

"However, following the intervention of the party leadership in New Delhi and the constitution of a three-member inquiry committee to probe allegations of indiscipline, the group has decided to put all such programmes on hold," the Congress leader said.

As reported earlier, the Congress high command had issued a clear warning to leaders engaged in factional activities and directed them to maintain organisational discipline. The leadership is understood to have conveyed that any further acts of indiscipline or public criticism of fellow party leaders would invite strict action.

A three-member inquiry panel constituted by the high command

The development comes two days after the All India Congress Committee (AICC) constituted a three-member inquiry committee to investigate allegations of indiscipline and anti-party activities within the Jammu and Kashmir unit of the party.

The committee comprises senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil as Convener, with Dr Amar Singh and Rafeek Khan serving as members.

Party insiders said the formation of the panel is being viewed as a strong signal that the Congress leadership is determined to address factionalism within the Jammu and Kashmir unit and restore organisational discipline ahead of upcoming political challenges.

Sources said the incumbent Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) leadership has submitted material, including video clips, allegedly showing some leaders publicly levelling serious allegations against fellow party members. These materials are expected to be examined by the inquiry committee as part of its investigation.

The panel has been tasked with scrutinising complaints and reports related to alleged indiscipline and activities considered detrimental to the interests of the party in Jammu and Kashmir. It will also examine the circumstances that led to the ongoing internal feud and submit its findings and recommendations to the party leadership.

The inquiry committee was constituted shortly after five senior Congress leaders from Jammu and Kashmir were summoned to New Delhi for a crucial meeting aimed at defusing tensions between rival factions and restoring unity within the organisation.

Those who attended the meeting included AICC General Secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir, JKPCC president Tariq Hamid Karra, JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla, former JKPCC president Vikar Rasool Wani, and former Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand.

The nearly two-hour meeting reportedly concluded with a firm message from the party high command, directing all leaders to refrain from taking internal disputes to public forums and instead focus on strengthening the organisation.

Party sources said that, for the time being, the dissident camp has chosen to suspend its planned programmes and adopt a wait-and-watch approach until the inquiry committee completes its work and the Congress leadership takes a final decision on the issues raised by various factions.