It seems ruling National Conference is in recruitment mode. Barely one year away from elections, former Congress leader, Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar has joined NC. His induction in NC made Omar Abdullah, working president of NC, said: Jabbar’s joining NC will give impetus to the overall development of Ganderbal constituency.
Son of late Sheikh Abdul Jabbar, a known political activist and associate of NC founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Jabbar junior joined the party along with hundreds of his supporters.
Describing his entry into the NC as returning home, Jabbar reposed faith in the policy, program of NC and the vision and ability of its leadership. “NC stands for unity, brotherhood and amity of the three regions of the state and various sections of the society,” he said.
While praising the “visionary leadership” of Omar Abdullah, Jabbar said that Omar led coalition government has given new dimension to the policy of NC to achieve the goal of “Naya Kashmir” and political stability and prosperity in the state. “NC has always remained the heart-beat of people of the state and enjoys overwhelming support in every area, region of the state,” he claimed.
Omar Abdullah expressed the hope that young Ishfaq would work with enthusiasm and energy to give flip to the policy program of NC.
Before contesting 2008 elections against NC as a Congress candidate from Ganderbal constituency, Jabbar junior served JKP as sub-inspector. He had secured above 5000 votes in 2008. Had his votes gone in favour of then PDP candidate, Qazi Mohammad Afzal, Omar could have lost the 2008 elections as well to Qazi, who had defeated him from the same constituency in 2002 elections.
It is said that Jabbar had been angered with the Congress leadership as he was not considered for the MLC’s slot when the term of the then Congress MLC from Ganderbal Ali Mohammad Bhat had ended. The Congress leadership had actually panicked after Jabbar announced he would be parting ways with the Congress because the promise to accommodate him in the Legislative Council had not been fulfilled.
Early this year Mohan Prakash, who was then the Congress general secretary in-charge J&K had went to Jabbar’s home in Lar village of Ganderbal to send out a signal that the decision to field Jabbar as the Congress candidate from Ganderbal in 2014 had the approval of the Congress high command.
The UPA chairperson and Congress president, Sonia Gandhi had given a personal audience to Jabbar when he went to meet her in New Delhi last time.
-Bilal Handoo
Pandahshath te baate…….