J&K Cong gets new chief, leader resigns in protest

A day after Congress high command appointed G A Mir as new president of Jammu and Kashmir Congress unit, a former minister and state vice president on Tuesday resigned in protest against the appointment.

Termed the appointment as an “unfortunate event and a black day for the state Congress,” Abdul Gani Vakil, who served as Social Welfare Minister in Ghulam Nabi Azad led government (2005-2008) said, “Installation of a tainted and junior most person (Mir), who has never held any post in the party’s organisational set up is beyond acceptance and recognition.”

Mir’s appointment came alongside appointment of new Congress chiefs for Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, newly-carved state of Telengana and Mumbai Regional Congress Committee.

Terming the appointment of Mir, “unjustified and undemocratic”, Vakil said, “The decision taken by the party high command is unilateral as no senior leader or legislator was consulted or taken into confidence on the issue.”

“Despite having the services of experienced, capable, dynamic especially untainted leaders at the disposal of the leadership, this type of revamping by high command which solely glorifies a tainted person possessing questionable and dubious credentials is regrettable and objectionable at first instance,” he claimed.

“If Congress president Sonia Gandhi fails to address the issue appropriately at the earliest it will be disastrous for the party. I will have no other option but to choose future course of action after holding consultation with my colleagues and supporters,” he added.

Born on 15 December 1959 in Anantnag district of South Kashmir, Mir is armed with experience of 31 years in political field with Congress. 55-year old Mir was Tourism Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in the outgoing Omar Abdullah government.

He was also Minister of State for Roads and Buildings (independent Charge) in Mufti Sayeed government in Jammu and Kashmir from 2002.

Mir, who was elected from Doru constituency in South Kashmir twice in 2002 and 2008 polls on Congress ticket, lost elections in 2014 by just over 150 votes. He was arrested in 2006 by the CBI in connection with an infamous sex scandal. However, he was exonerated by the court in 2012.