SRINAGAR: National Conference (NC) leader and MLA Salman Sagar on Wednesday apologised on behalf of party leader, Tanvir Sadiq over his controversial remarks about poverty in Kashmir during the tenure of NC founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.
Sagar said an apology should be offered if Sadiq’s remarks had hurt people’s sentiments, while clarifying that the comments were not intended to demean Kashmiris.
“If anyone’s sentiments have been hurt, or rather, if the majority of people feel that Tanvir Sadiq Sahib said something wrong, then I believe there should be an apology,” Sagar told a local news channel.
The controversy arose after Sadiq reportedly said that poverty in Kashmir during Sheikh Abdullah’s time was so severe that an entire village would sometimes share a single pair of trousers.
Sagar further said Sadiq’s remarks were intended to underline Sheikh Abdullah’s efforts towards the economic empowerment of the people rather than insult Kashmiris.
“What he meant was that Sheikh Abdullah had made efforts towards the economic empowerment of the people here,” Sagar said, referring to initiatives concerning education, infrastructure and land reforms.
On the upcoming Assembly session, Sagar said the party hoped to raise issues concerning the public and ensure that questions related to people’s welfare were taken up in the House.
