Senior Congress leader and Union Minister for Health Ghulam Nabi Azad Saturday kept option of alliance with ruling National Conference and opposition People’s Democratic Party open saying that his party is emerging a strong force in Jammu and Kashmir.

He also said that people should wait for the defence inquiry into the alleged secret fund scam till reality comes to fore.

Talking to reporters at a function here, Azad said, “Congress has emerged a strong force; after 2002, Congress has kept its options open on  whether to go with the NC or the PDP.
Congress will remain in power in J&K no matter with whom they enter into an alliance.”

Commenting on Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir’s alleged role in attempting to topple
J&K Government in 2010 with the help of former Army chief, Azad said, “If these reports are true, it’s a very serious issue.

Army headquarters has sent the report to Defence ministry...”
“First, it is a sensitive, defence issue as there are allegations against the former army chief. A careful investigation will be carried out by the defence ministry,” he added.

Strike disrupts life across Valley

Normal life across the Kashmir valley was disrupted on Saturday due to a separatist-sponsored strike call to protest the killing of five persons in para-military CRPF firing in south Kashmir’s Shopian town 15 days ago, reports DHNS from Srinagar.

While shops and business establishments remained closed throughout Srinagar, attendance in banks, educational institutions and government offices was thin following a strike call given by hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

Police and paramilitary CRPF personnel were deployed in strength on the streets of Srinagar to foil any protest attempt by separatists.