Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee President Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz Sunday said that his party will play a constructive role within and outside the Assembly to safeguard the interests of people of the state.
Talking to KNS immediately after the new government took oath here, he said, “Mufti Mohammad Sayeed himself said north and south poles have met. When they have met it will be only known by CMP now how much they have met and how they will fulfil the aspirations of people of the state.”“Congress according to its secular philosophy will play a constructive role within and outside the Assembly and whatever is against the interests of people will oppose that,” he said.
On stand of Congress on Article 370, Soz said, “Congress is committed to Article 370 which can’t be separated from the constitution. Congress maintains that Article 370 is an important part and bridge between state-center relations. No power can remove it.”Asked about his party’s stand on issue of granting residency status to West Pakistan Refugees, he said, “This issue can be settled through a dialogue. State government should talk to Center. WPRs weren’t included in the package announced by the Congress government as only those who are state subjects were included in that.”On PDP’s allegations that NC-Congress coalition failed as there was no CMP between the two, the state Congress chief told KNS, “CMP wasn’t in writing. Their (NC) agenda was separate and ours was separate. But our alliance lasted for six years despite some hiccups.”
Asked whether the alliance between NC-Congress was a failure, he said, “”People had complaints regarding governance on ground and I accept that.”
On PDP-BJP alliance, he said, “This alliance has dangers from RSS as it (RSS) won’t budge from its agenda.”
On expectations from the new government, he said, “Development is must but new government must take care of aspirations of the people. We will see how the aspirations of the people of the state have been kept in consideration in the CMP.”On Legislative Council polls scheduled on Monday he said, “Congress will support the NC candidates and I have issued a whip in this regard. I came to Jammu for this reason only.On reports that he has urged the AICC president Sonia Gandhi to relieve him from the post of state party president, Soz said, “I told high command that I have been president for the last eight years and it is the time to move on. I’ll always remain a solider of Congress.”Asked who is likely to replace him as party president, “I thing Ghulam Ahmad Mir sahib’s name is in the panel and he is likely to be the new president.”