Congress takes PDP route, gags its Jammu and Kashmir leaders

Srinagar : A day after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gagged its party leaders and authorised only its chief spokesperson Naeem Akhtar to speak to the media on policy matters, Congress Sunday came up with a similar directive and “cautioned” its party workers “not to make any statement” on behalf of the party.

“Prof Saifuddin Soz, MP, former Union minister and president of J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) has cautioned party cadres that none other than the president of JKPCC should issue any press statement on behalf of the party,” said Mohd Muzaffar Parray, vice president of the state Congress unit.

He said that the chief spokesperson of the party in the state K Ravinder Sharma would speak to media “occasionally” and that too with the “approval” of the JKPCC president. “Apart from president, JKPCC, chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma has been authorised to speak occasionally for the party with the approval of the JKPCC president,” he said.

Parray, however, said the directive would not apply to the central leadership of the party and they can talk to media “as they like”.

“Ambika Soni, MP and general secretary of All India Congress Committee and J&K incharge and leader of Opposition (Rajya Sabha) Ghulam Nabi Azad will always speak for the party, particularly for issues related to J&K, as they like” he said. Sources in the Congress said the decision has been taken to avoid any controversial statements coming out in the media.