Kashmir Congress in Chaos: District Chiefs Slam ‘Anti -Party’ Takeover

Srinagar: A full-blown rebellion has erupted within the Jammu and Kashmir Congress, with ten district presidents accusing state chief Tariq Hameed Karra and the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) of betraying loyalists and selling out the party to rival National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The dissenters, led by veterans like Master Maqbool, General Secretary of Budgam, have threatened protests in Delhi and Kashmir if their demands for "legitimate leadership" are not met ahead of the Congress National Convention of District Presidents.

The crisis stems from allegations of a secret internal accord between Congress, NC, and PDP, which the rebels claim has marginalized long-time party workers.

“We stood by Congress during times when our members weren’t even allowed burial in graveyards, branded as non-Muslims,” Master Maqbool, a 50-year party veteran said while speaking to Republic Tv.

“Now, the leadership considers us deadwood"Maqbool, who joined Congress in his college days, accused AICC members of orchestrating the downfall of the party in Kashmir.

At the heart of the controversy is J&K Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra, a former multi-party politician who allegedly joined Congress to evade arrest by the Government of India. The rebels charge Karra with appointing “ineligible and anti-Congress” interim district presidents, sidelining the list approved by the AICC.

“Karra has brought in people with no past association with Congress,” said Maqbool "We, the legitimate leaders, have been handed over to NC and PDP for free.

The Jammu and Kashmir Congress, historically a significant player in the region’s politics, has struggled to maintain its foothold since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

Once a key ally in coalition governments with NC and PDP, the party has seen its influence wane amid shifting alliances and internal strife.

The current revolt threatens to further weaken its position in the Union Territory, where it holds only a handful of seats in the J&K Legislative Assembly.

Two months ago, a delegation of 20 leaders, including district presidents and general secretaries, traveled to New Delhi to raise their concerns with AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal.

“He assured us our positions were secure,” said Maqbool. However, the group was denied access to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, a move they attribute to “internal politics” within the party.

A letter sent 2-3 days ago to Venugopal and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has gone unanswered, intensifying their frustration.

“We are not beggars,” said Maqbool. “If we’re not invited to the upcoming convention, we’ll protest in Delhi and Kashmir" The rebel leader said they remain the rightful district presidents, approved by the AICC, and reject Karra’s appointees as outsiders.

The dissenting leaders, according to Maqbool, include himself along with Nazir Ahmad Lone (Kupwara), Irshad Ahmad Budoo (Baramulla), Adv. Sheikh Farooq Habib (Bandipora), Showkat Ahmad Khan (Ganderbal), Ghulam Qadir Bhat (Pulwama), Dr. Fayaz Ahmad Khan (Srinagar), Amanullah Mantoo (Kulgam), Ali Muhammad Mantoo (Anantnag), and Haji Muhammad Yousuf (Shopian).