Srinagar, Jan 26: In what points to some bickering within the government, Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather Saturday declined to take salute at Budgam on Republic Day and instead preferred to stay put in Jammu.
During the last three consecutive years, the minister had taken salute at Bakshi Stadium at Srinagar, while this year it was minister for Rural Development Ali Muhammad Sagar who was assigned the job of taking salute there.
Sources in police said they were expecting, Finance Minister to be the chief guest and take salute at Srinagar. “However, four days ago, we received an order from the State’s Home Department that Sagar Sahab will be taking the salute,” police sources said adding they issued the invitation cards to officials and other people accordingly incorporating Sagar’s name.
Rather attended the R-Day function at Jammu that was presided over by Governor NN Vohra.
However, informed sources in State’s Home Department said that after the Government decided that Sagar would take salute at the main function at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar, Rather was asked to hoist the tri-color in central district of Budgam, but he declined the offer. “The Minister said that his leg was fractured and as such he can’t travel to the Valley,” sources said adding that consequently Minister of Agriculture was requested to take salute at Budgam.
Home Department sources further said that this year most of the new Ministers were asked to chair functions at district headquarters. “At the eleventh hour some Ministers were requested to take salute at district headquarters,” they said.
According to sources within NC, Sagar was being again brought on the political forefront in Srinagar in view of the Parliamentary and Assembly polls scheduled for 2014.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 26 Jan 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 26 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 Jan 2013 00:00:00 IST