Tasavur Mushtaq
SRINAGAR
The news emanating from South Kashmir has come as a major jolt to ruling National Conference (NC) when ahead of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, veteran leader and former MP Mehboob Beg Sunday quit the party and extended unconditional support to his PDP rival Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Mufti is PDP’s candidate from Islamabad.
Beg is son of National Conference stalwart Mirza Afzal Beg. Afzal Beg was close confidante of late Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah. Beg who also turned down the NC mandate given to him to contest the assembly elections from Islamabad announced his decision to quit the party at a workers meet at his residence at Sarnal.
“I extend unconditional support to Mufti Muhammad Sayeed as he is the only person who can halt the BJP’s march in Kashmir,” Beg told the workers.
Beg, however, said he will not be joining the PDP. Beg’s reason of quitting the party were same as that of Sheikh Ghulam Rasool as he said that ,”he was never taken into confidence by the party leadership and his suggestions on organisational matters and development works in Islamabad were ignored.”
“RSS Ko Rokna Hai; Modi Ko Rokna Hai–Kashmir Ko Bacchana Hai; Mufti Sahib Ko Lana Hai,” Beg is reported to have said in gathering.
Beg did not stop at quitting the party, he lashed out at National Conference ministers in the state government. He alleged that they (NC ministers) were worried only about their own constituencies.
“One minister would look after development of constituency of another minister and vice versa. Since Islamabad had no minister, it got neglected in terms of development,” he said.
When Kashmir Life contacted PDP’s chief spokesman Naeem Akhtar, he was not aware of the development as he is along with Mufti is camping Kishtwar.
Pertinent to mention that few days ago PDP’s Muzaffar Hussain Beigh in Islamabad had told reporters that, “Dr Mehboob Beg is an honest politician and a man of principle. PDP will welcome and ready to hug him.”
