The ruling national Conference while lashing out at its coalition partner state Congress, Sunday termed it a ‘junior partner’ of the state coalition- asking it not to dictate terms.After the allegations leveled by the Congress against NC of running the state with ‘corruption’ and’ misgovernance’, the party sharpened its knives- maintaining that despite having mere 17 members in the assembly, it accepted Congress but the party must not transgress the limits.NC’s firebrand leader and additional general secretary Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Sunday stated that the remarks made by Soz over Pahrais and OBCs of the state are unfortunate as the Congress never during the five and a half years of rule, raised such issues and when Omar has taken the measures for their development, the Congress seems hell-bent upon taking the ‘undue’ credit. “If Congress was that much serious over the issue of Paharais and others, why it didn’t raise such issues during the past five and a half years. The fact is that what Congress is doing at present is due to its frustration of rout from state and across India,” Kamal said.
He maintained that Congress ministers in the state have the port folios in the possession that have direct bearing upon the common man. “When Soz accuses us of corruption, he must understand that the vital port folios were in possession of his ministers. He cannot blame us.”Kamal who is also the uncle of the chief minister said that party has given free choice to Omar to contest from anywhere in the state and that Omar at present is the face of Abdullah family. “Omar is free to contest from any assembly segment wherever from he wants and wishes.”Kamal also maintained that he is ready to contest the upcoming state elections and it is well within the powers of the party whether they allow him to contest or not. “Yes, as far as I as a person is concerned- I am ready to contest the polls. What is wrong with me that you say I am not interested in entering into poll fray? If the party wants me to fight the polls, I will.” (KNS)