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Srinagar, Dec 24 (UNI) The crisis in the ruling coalition in Jammu and Kashmir seems to have been defused, at least for the time being.

The present crisis erupted at a Cabinet meeting in Jammu on December 18 where Congress and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ministers exchanged heated words and traded serious charges against each other following which Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad threatened to dissolve the state Assembly.

The meeting also saw a verbal duel between Mr Azad and Finance, Planning, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Hameed Karra who objected to some government decisions which, he said, were taken without the consent of the Cabinet.

Sources said at the Cabinet meeting, Mr Karra and Agriculture Minister Abdul Aziz Zargar objected to a circular issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) directing all Commissioners and Secretaries to seek the Chief Minister's consent before sanctioning any additional funds.

Mr Karra said it was not in the spirit of the coalition to issue such circulars which went against business rules, they added.

''There is no precedence of such a circular. What forced the Chief Minister to issue it now?'' asked a visibly angry Mr Karra.

The sources said the PDP ministers also took strong objection to some recent transfers in the state administration, including the posting of nodal officers to new districts.

However, Congress ministers Mangat Ram Sharma and Taj Mohi-ud-Din retorted back, saying the Chief Minister had the discretion and the right to take any decision.

Agitated over the ''unending'' blame-game, Mr Azad said he was fed up with the entire system and threatened to dissolve the state Assembly. At the meeting, Mr Karra demanded revocation of the contentious circular, which was promptly refused by Mr Azad.

Angered by the Chief Minister's refusal, Mr Karra left the Cabinet meeting midway to register his protest, shouting that Mr Azad had some personal problems with him.

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