A close relative of senior National Conference leader and Finance Minister, Abdur Rahim Rather Sunday joined the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Front led by social activist Rabia Baji.Nazir Ahmad Rather, who is the nephew of the Finance Minister, joined JKAIF in front of President, Rabia Baji and other working body members during a public meeting that was held at Badipora, Chrar-e-Shareef on Sunday, a party spokesman told GNS. Besides Nazir, prominent figures like Master Ghulam Mohammad Rather who was District President of PDF, Ghulam Rasool of NC and Ghulam Mohammad Ganai of PDP, also announced to join JKAIF.
On this occasion, the party President also declared first list of candidates for upcoming assembly elections. The new entrant, Nazir Ahmad Rather will fight elections from Chrar-e-Shareef against his uncle; Nusrat Bashir will fight polls from Inderwal constituency of Chenab Valley while Master Ghulam Mohammad will contest elections from Eidgah constituency. The party will be pitching almost 22 candidates from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions,
“AIF has come into existence only for the benefit of the common masses especially youth, besides work for transparent and accountable governance. Our party is like a family to us. We won’t treat each other as workers or leaders,” Rabia, told the gathering.“I cannot say that this party would provide results overnight because by announcing that promising in Islam is forbidden,” she added.Rabia said she will not contest polls but will monitor work for her candidates and try to make them victorious.“Come what may be the results, the party candidates shall continue to put their hard efforts to reach the people especially youth and downtrodden to redress their grievance at state and central level,” she said.Besides Rabia, working body members Dr. Rehmatullah, Mohammad Aslam Raina, M.K.Bhat, Bashir Ahmad Pampori also participated in the meeting that was attended by locals in large numbers. The meeting also provided opportunity to the locals to come forward on the dias and share their ideas. (GNS)