Congress MLA in Farooq’s Cabinet remains defiant

SRINAGAR, April 8: Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, who enjoys a dubious distinction of being a Congress MLA in rival National Conference cabinet, h...

SRINAGAR, April 8: Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, who enjoys a dubious distinction of being a Congress MLA in rival National Conference cabinet, has challenged the Congress leadership to act against him.

Speaking to The Indian Express Ansari said, “let them (Congress leadership) issue me a proper letter then I will also show them their place.” He said the Congress leadership of both the State and Centre had mutely watched his joining the Farooq Abdullah cabinet and had never officially objected to it.

Ansari, Urban Development Minister in Abdullah’s cabinet has been in the eye of the storm recently when his main supporter in the All India Congress committee Ghulam Nabi Azad recently said that “it was time for Ansari to either join the National Conference quit the cabinet”.

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The minister categorically said he had no wish to give up his ministership. “I am a minister in my personal capacity and as a friend of Farooq Abdullah,” he said. In an emotional tone the politician-businessman, who is also a Shiaclergyman, said “I will never leave my friend Farooq Abdullah.” Asked why he does not join “his friend” by quitting the party and joining NC, Ansari blows hot and cold. “Basically there is not much difference between the NC and Congress ideology…I want to keep good relations between the two parties ”he continues with his off-the-track rhetoric.

Iftikhar Ansari lashed out at the Congress leaders and particularly at Mufti Mohamaad Sayeed and his daughter Mehbooba Mufti. “They are personalising the politics and launching personal attacks on Farooq Abdullah”, he said. Asked why he was defiantly sticking on to the ministerial berth while the move was being resented in both the NC and Congress parties, Ansari dared the AICC(I) to expel him. He said he enjoyed the friendship and confidence of the NC leader and did not bother much about the others.

Ansari said “I have joined Doctor Saheb (Abdullah) to help him in the work of retrieving the people of Kashmir from the trauma of militancy.” Aren’tothers in the opposition also doing the same thing although from a different seat? Ansari digresses into slanderous campaign against Mufti and other congress leaders.

The Congress leader defended the decision of NC to back the BJP-led coalition government at centre.