KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Ahead budget session of state legislature, National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday asked National Conference Legislators to raise the angst and concerns of the people in the upcoming Assembly and Council sessions.
Presiding over a meeting of National Conference Legislators at his Srinagar residence on Tuesday morning, Dr Farooq Abdullah said the PDP-BJP Government should be held accountable for “reneging” on all promises made in its ‘Agenda of the Alliance’ and for “failing” to secure the State’s political rights and special status.
The National Conference President said, “democracy provides a legitimate opportunity to raise the aspirations and expectations of the people and seek answers from the government. It is our duty to hold the Government accountable and to question it over its frequent U-turns and back-pedaling. Our people have been left in the lurch as their sentiments were exploited to seek votes. There is an open assault on our constitutional special status and on what remains of the State’s Autonomy and both PDP and BJP are committed to explore new ways to weaken the State’s special status. These issues need to be raised in the halls of democracy as it is our duty to our constituents and the people of this State,” a party statement quoted Dr Farooq Abdullah as having said while addressing the party’s legislators in Srinagar.
“Be it NFSA, the issue of NEET extension to J&K or the apprehensions of the people about Sainik Colonies or separate townships for people of a particular community – these are issues that we should raise in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council and seek clear, unambiguous answers from the Government. There is a clear and damning perception of dis-empowerment and sabotage in the State and the apprehensions of the people are justified. The silence of the Government in answering these questions has further compounded the problem and created palpable discomfort at the grassroots level,” the National Conference President added.
The NC President asked the Party Legislators to raise the day-to-day issues of the people in the Assembly and Council sessions as well and said issues of ration shortage, infrastructural rot, corruption, unemployment and lack of development should be raised for the welfare of the State and the interests of our people.
“The State Government is also answerable on the issues of Law and order, justice and a tragic lack of political initiatives within the State that has led to an increase in local youth joining militant ranks. The recent attacks in Srinagar and the mishandled situation in Handwara and Kupwara earlier are instances where the State Government needs to be questioned,” Dr Farooq said.
The Party Legislators put forth their views and inputs and evolved a consensus on the strategy to hold the Government accountable in the upcoming session.
Meanwhile National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah and Working President Omar Abdullah today expressed solidarity with veteran journalist Yusuf Jameel on the demise of his mother.
Praying for peace to the departed soul, Dr Farooq and Omar Abdullah have extended their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
Senior National Conference Leaders including NC General Secretary Haji Ali Mohammad Sagar, NC Additional General Secretary Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Senior Leaders Abdul Rahim Rather, Advocate Mohammad Akbar Lone, Mian Altaf Ahmed, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Mir Saifullah, NC Chief Spokesperson Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, NC Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani, NC State Spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu and NC Youth President Salman Ali Sagar have also expressed solidarity with Yusuf Jameel in his hour of grief and prayed for peace to the departed soul.
