A predominant section in the state Congress believes the party's electoral fortunes could suffer due to the poor performance of the state government, and favours parting of ways. Unable to provide any clear answers for the clear failure of the state government to anticipate trouble in the communally sensitive Kishtwar-Doda area, a stronghold of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Congress Saturday pointed fingers at its partner.

Doda District Congress Committee president and MLC Naresh Gupta demanded an inquiry by a sitting HC judge into Friday's clashes and into the role of local National Conference MLA and Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo, who was present in Kishtwar. Gupta's comments are significant as he is considered close to Azad, who hails from Doda district adjoining Kishtwar.

The opposition BJP, which has been in complete disarray for last two years after seven of its MLAs were thrown out of the party for voting for a National Conference candidate in elections to the J&K Legislative Council, has suddenly acquired new vigour. With tension spreading across the state, this incident could help it regain lost ground in the Jammu region. Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley is expected to visit Kishtwar Sunday with state party leaders if the things go as planned.

While the state government has ordered a time-bound inquiry by Jammu Divisional Commissioner Shant Manu, Congress leader Gupta said probe should be conducted by a sitting HC judge, "who should fix responsibility so that strict action is taken against those involved". Questioning Kitchloo's role, he said, "Why didn't the minister intervene effectively to control the situation? Why wasn't curfew imposed immediately, especially when we all know how sensitive the area is? Why wasn't the Army involved immediately once it became clear that the police were unable to control the situation?" Gupta didn't rule out the possibility of people migrating to other areas "if fear persists". "Effective steps must be taken to restore confidence among members of the minority community."

Senior BJP leader and former state unit chief Nirmal Singh, who was detained by police at Batote with other BJP leaders while trying to proceed towards Kishtwar, also targeted Kitchloo. Claiming that warning signals were ignored, Singh said, "It is a conspiracy by the state government to polarise voters in view of next year's elections. There must be an inquiry into what the Minister of State for Home was doing when all this was happening."