A storm brewing in Congress-PDP alliance in J

Srinagar, May 15 (UNI) A storm seems to be brewing in the ruling coalition in Jammu and Kashmir after the Congress today accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of having alleged ''clandestine links'' with the militants and giving a ''silent burial'' to the sex scandal in 2004.

Without naming PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, the state Congress demanded a CBI probe into her alleged ''clandestine links'' with the militants.

At a public meeting in central Kashmir yesterday, Ms Mufti had reportedly hinted at mid-term polls in the state, saying ''some dramatic changes are soon expected''.

''Two militants and a regional party (PDP) municipal counsellor wanted in the reported conspiracy to assassinate former Chief Minister (Mufti Mohammad Sayeed) were eventually found to have taken refuge in the residence of a top ranking regional party leader (Mehbooba Mufti) at her residence in Shahjahan Road in New Delhi,'' state Congress General Secretary Abdul Majid Padder said in a statement here.

He said the nation wanted an explanation and a CBI inquiry into those ''clandestine links''.

The often repeated allegations of a militant-politician nexus in the state stood exposed the day ultras involved in the Akshardham attack were traced to have inhabited the house of a senior sitting minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Padder alleged, apparently referring to state Agriculture Minister Abdul Aziz Zargar.

He said the reported double-faced, unholy militant-politician links detrimental to the cause of society and the national interest too merited an impartial CBI inquiry and should be expeditiously investigated to expose those involved.

''There are at least three serving Ministers belonging to the very fold (PDP) with active militant links. They continue abetting anti-national activities even after becoming ministers,'' the Congress leader alleged.

The statement also demanded a probe into the assets of all those who had become legislators and ministers after 2002.

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