Censuring Peoples Democratic Party for evading direct explanation to his charge of conspiring with Bharataya Janata Party in 2008 to plunge Jammu and Kashmir into unprecedented political uncertainty, Provincial President National Conference Devender Singh Rana on Tuesday wondered how they could side-track the real and a very serious issue by indulging in rhetoric.Addressing party’s delegate session at Banihal and workers meeting at Hinjal in Banihal this afternoon, Rana said that the people want to know the truth, as the unfortunate incidents in the wake of Amarnath land row agitation caste a dark shadow on the communal fabric of the pluralistic state and resulted into death and destruction.
“PDP should explain its role in the circumstances leading to the Amarnath land row agitation of 2008 rather than indulging in frivolous and baseless rhetoric after six days of silence in a bid to evade the core issue raised by me. They need to explain what transpired during PDP-BJP meetings in New Delhi, facilitated by the Jammu based BJP leader”, Rana said while reiterating that the Amarnath land agitation was the conspiracy hatched by PDP and BJP to trifurcate the state and dislodge Ghulam Nabi Azad government in a failed bid to capture the power.
Amid applause, Rana vowed that National Conference will not allow the communal and fascist elements to vitiate the atmosphere of amity and brotherhood by putting one community against another. He said that a PDP MLC in Poonch has been following the footsteps of his President Mehbooba Mufti by showering praises on Narendra Modi.“The MLC is going around and promising to the people that if PDP comes to power it will convert Jammu and Kashmir to Modi’s Gujarat”, he said “Jammu and Kashmir is not Gujarat, communalism will not be allowed to spread its tentacles in Jammu and Kashmir”, he said while referring to the great role of the people in keeping the flag of amity aloft even during most hostile and provocative situations. This spirit of secularism and communal harmony is the real strength of Jammu and Kashmir, he maintained.
The Provincial President elaborated over the duplicity of PDP leaders and said they have inflicted deep scars on the psyche of the people ever since 1953. He referred to the anti-democracy and anti-people role of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed in 1984 and 1990 and recalled how he vetoed the sane counseling of the then Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah and went ahead with anti-people activities. He said after finding no option to save the people from the wrath of Mufti, National Conference had no option but to quit from the government.
Rana said that his party has always placed interest of the people of all the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir above everything else. “We have never compromised for power”, he said and referred to how National Conference preferred to stay in opposition in 2002 despite being the single largest party and having offer of 15 MLAs including those of PDP to form the government. He said this spirit of sacrifice has endeared the party in the hearts of the people.
“The party under the sagacious leadership of Dr Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will carry forward the cherished mission of steering Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh to peace and prosperity”, he maintained.Speaking on the occasion, senior National Conference leader Sajjad Shaheen dismantled the hypocrisy of PDP, describing it a party of dream merchants who were selling the dreams which they themselves know were not achievable. They were hoodwinking public opinion by raking up non-issues and creating passions, he added.
Shaheen lauded the role of the coalition government led by Omar Abdullah in launching holistic development of the remote and far off areas. He also projected local issues and sought engagement of local work force in the construction of railway line and four lanning of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.Those who were present on the occasion included Provincial Secretary Sheikh Bashir Ahmad, Ex- Legislators Babu Rampal, Th. Kashmir Singh, Brij Mohan Sharma, Dr. Chaman Lal Bhagat, Sr. National Conference leader Gurdeep Singh Sassan, Surinder Singh Bunty, Arif Mir, Abid Magrey, Mohd Ashraf Block Presidents Abdul Hamid Sheikh, A.R Manhas, Nisar Ahmad Sohail, Mohd Sadiq Naik, party delegates, , Mohd Khalil Sohail, Mirwaiz Atta Mohd Katoch, Moulvi Abdul Latif, Mohd Afzal Khan, Abdul Jabbar Hajam, Makhan Lal Raina, Mohd Imtyaz Mughal, Showkat Ahmad Dar, Omar Farooq, Nasir Ahmad Bali, Reyaz Ahmad Mir, Gh. Rasool Daing, Udham Singh, Maya Dass, Mohd Afzal Dar, Mohd Yosuf Drabu and others.