Srinagar: 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 after the autonomous status was abrogated by Govt of India led by BJP.
“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.
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,” he added.
However, PADG’s spokesman Yousuf Tarigami said that there was no question of side-lining or ignoring anyone in the amalgam and today voting rights issue is more important than elections.
Meanwhile, 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.
Omar, the spokesman said that he will discuss the feedback from the meeting with the party president Dr Farooq Abdullah.
(GNS)