Srinagar, Aug 24: National Conference on Wednesday obliquely announced not to contest ensuing Assembly elections jointly with People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), an alliance of several parties which came together with the claim to fight for the restoration of J&K’s special status.
“Provincial Committee members (of National Conference) unanimously resolved that JKNC should prepare and fight all 90 seats,” the party said in a statement after a meeting chaired by party’s vice president Omar Abdullah.
In July this year, NC president Farooq Abdullah, and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti had announced that PAGD will contest together. Farooq, who heads the PAGD, had announced it while addressing media in Kupwara.
Mehbooba had said “People want us to stay together and restore our lost respect and dignity. The difficulties, the sufferings we are going through (people feel) we should stay together and fight.”
The PAGD among others includes NC, PDP, the CPI(M) and Awami National Conference as constituents and the alliance had contested DDC polls together.
“The participants present in the meeting expressed dismay over the recent statements, audio jingles and speeches made by some of the constituents of the PAGD targeting JKNC. They felt that it does not contribute to the overall unity of the amalgam. They denounced the unfair treatment meted out to JKNC in PAGD. The participants demanded immediate course correction from PAGD constituents,” the party spokesman said in a statement to GNS.
The provincial committee members unanimously resolved that JKNC should prepare and fight all 90 assembly seats, he said.
“The Vice President in his response acknowledged the concerns raised by the participants and reiterated that the interest of the people of J&K and JKNC will be safeguarded,” the spokesman said in a statement to GNS.
General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, Additional General Secretary Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani, Treasurer Shammi Oberoi, senior leaders Mohammad Shafi Uri, Mubarak Gul, Abdul Rahim Rather, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Sakina Itoo, Shameema Firdous, Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq, Mir Saifullah, Irfan Shah, Party MPs Muhammad Akbar Lone, Hasnain Masoodi, Sharief Ud Din Shariq, Pirzada Gh Ahmed Shah, Nazir Gurezi, Ali Muhammad Dar, Dr Bashir Ahmed Veeri, Javed Dar, Aga Syed Mehmood, Muhammad Syed Akhoon, Syed Tauqeer, Showkat Ganaie, Altaf Ahmed Wani, Abdul Majeed Bhat Larmi, Showkat Ahmed Mir, GN Rather, GM Mir, GR Naaz, Abdul Ahad Dar, Peer Afaq, Imran Nabi Dar, Salman Ali Sagar, Sara Hayat Shah, Sabiya Qadri, Dr Sameer Koul, Mudassar Shahmiri, Ifra Jan, GN Bhat, Kafilul Rahman, Mohammad Yaqoob Wani, Riyaz Khan, Shabir Kulley, Sheikh Rafi, Riyaz Bedar, Peer Muhammad Hussain, Irshad Kar, GH Rahi, Muhammad Khalil Bandh, Saifuddin Bhat, Farooq Shah, GQ Pardesi, Manzoor Ahmed Wani, Dr Mohammed Shafi, Prof Abdul Majeed Mattoo, Mohammad Amin Banday, Dr Syed, Qaiser Jalali, Shabir Ahmad, Shafqat Watali, JS Azad, GN Tailbali, A R Tantray, Neelofar Masood were also present in the meeting.
During the hours-long meeting the functionaries gave their appraisal about the current political situation in their respective areas, the spokesman said. “The meeting was also marked by threadbare discussions on party affairs and the mounting apprehensions among the public with regards to inclusion of twenty five lac new voters as claimed by J&K’s CEO in a press conference.”
Alluding to inclusion of 25 lakh new voters in Jammu and Kashmir, Omar said the entire matter begs clarity from the Election Commission of India. “All this has triggered fears of demographic flooding and political disempowerment within the public. We are yet to ascertain if the final electoral rolls are also to include those ordinarily residing voters. Our concerns with regards to requirements for outsiders to get registered continue to remain unmet. The clarity provided by government quarters has failed to address our core concerns on the issue,” he said.
Omar, the former chief minister of J&K and MoS in NDA-led by late BJP stalwart Atal bihari Vajpayee said that people of Jammu and Kashmir are best equipped to defeat these nefarious designs by voting in huge numbers in the forthcoming elections, whenever it’s held. “The remedy lies with our people, who if they choose to vote in huge numbers can thwart these attempts aimed at disempowering the people of J&K. Therefore people have to make it a point to come out and vote in huge numbers,” he added.
Omar, the spokesman said that he will discuss the feedback from the meeting with the party president Dr Farooq Abdullah. (GNS)
