PDP expels 8 leaders for meeting foreign envoys’ delegation in Srinagar

New Delhi: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday expelled eight party leaders for meeting the delegation of foreign envoys during their visit to Srinagar. The leaders who have been expelled are Dilawar Mir, Rafi Ahmad Mir, Zaffar Iqbal, Abdul Majeed Padroo, Raja Manzoor Khan, Javaid Hussain Baig, Qamar Hussain and Abdul Rahim Rather — all former MLAs.
A statement issued from the party headquarters in Srinagar on Thursday said that the party has decided to expel the eight leaders for “going against the will of the people”, adding that “in view of the development post August 5 and the unilateral move of the government of India which has violated the will and hurt the sentiments of people, it has come to attention of the party that certain party leaders have been part of the parleys which go against the interests of the state, official position and core beliefs of the party.”
A party insider told Kashmir Horizon “Party leadership has recommended expulsion of Dilawar Mir, Rafi Ahmed Mir, Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, Ch Qamar Hussain, Raja Manzoor, Javaid Beigh, Ab Majeed Padroo and Ab Rahim Rather from basic membership of the party”.
The eight leaders on Thursday met the visiting envoys from 15 countries, who arrived in Jammu and Kashmir for a two-day visit to take a stock of the region. The delegation included envoys from United States of America (USA), Bangladesh, Vietnam, Norway, Maldives, South Korea, Morocco and Nigeria, among others.