SRINAGAR: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Friday ruled out any possibility of a split in the party, describing reports of internal divisions as baseless, after holding a meeting with disgruntled party legislators at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s residence in Srinagar.
Abdullah said the National Conference remained united and organised, asserting that the party had neither split nor would it break in the future.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said the concerns raised by the legislators had been discussed seriously and everyone had been given an opportunity to present their views.
He said the leadership would address some issues immediately, while others would take time, adding that steps would also be taken to strengthen the government and resolve people’s difficulties.
Abdullah maintained that the party would continue its political struggle for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and the restoration of Articles 370 and 35-A.
Senior NC leader Nazir Ahmad Gurezi also dismissed speculation that the legislators were planning to form a separate political outfit, saying no breakaway party had emerged from the National Conference.
He said the legislators had approached the party leadership on several occasions to raise their concerns, but a recent meeting had been exaggerated on social media and portrayed as the beginning of a separate political formation.
Gurezi said the issues raised by the legislators had been placed before Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah, who had assured them that their concerns would be addressed.
He added that the matters included both political and other issues, with some expected to be taken up immediately and work on the remaining concerns to be carried forward gradually.
