Political crisis in J&K; PDP threatens to withdrew Ministers

Srinagar, Aug 31 (UNI) A political crisis has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) threatened to withdrew its Ministers from the coalition government following Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad's refusal to divest some important portfolios, including Finance, from Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig, highly-placed sources said today.

The sources told UNI that PDP President Mehbooba Mufti has summoned an emergency meeting of the party legislators and leaders at the residence of former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed at 2000 hrs to decide the future course of action.

They said the PDP top brass has decided to withdrew its Ministers from the coalition government and will support the Congress from outside. ''The top PDP leaders are unhappy with Mr Azad's decision not to divest the important portfolios of Finance, Planning, Law and Parliamentary Affairs from Mr Baig despite a letter to him by the PDP high command,'' the sources added.

Instead only Tourism portfolio was taken away from him.

The sources said it was the Chief Minister's prerogative to allocate the portfolios to his Council of Ministers, but in case of a coalition government all the ruling partners have to be taken into confidence.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Forum (PDF) will also meet here tonight under the chairmanship of Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen to decide its future course of action.

UNI AG YA RS2003