Srinagar, Nov 6 (UNI) National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Friday asserted that the party remained united and that no one could break it.
Speaking to reporters after holding a meeting with party legislators at the Chief Minister’s official residence in Srinagar, Farooq said the concerns raised by the legislators were genuine and had been heard by the party leadership.
“False news that the National Conference is breaking is completely wrong. This is a Jamaat (organisation), and those who think they can break this Jamaat should know that it has never broken and will never break, Inshallah,” he said.
The meeting came in the wake of resentment among several party MLAs following the recent cabinet expansion, which had triggered allegations of bias and dissatisfaction within the party ranks.
Abdullah said the party leadership had held discussions with the legislators and assured them that steps would be taken to address their concerns, some immediately and others gradually.
“We have talked to them, their problems were genuine, they were listened to very well, and some steps will be taken quickly, and some will be taken slowly. They will strengthen the party and the government so that the problems of the people are resolved,” he said.
Farooq also reiterated that the party would continue its fight for the restoration of statehood and the constitutional guarantees under Articles 370 and 35A.
“Our fight for statehood will continue, and so will our fight for Article 370 and Article 35A,” he said.
NC MLA Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurezi), also dismissed speculation about a split within the party, saying the legislators had approached the party leadership to raise their concerns and had received assurances that their issues would be addressed.
Gurezi said the legislators regularly approach the party leadership with their grievances.
“We are legislators of the National Conference. We come to our party leadership with our issues every time,” he said.
He said the legislators had been sitting together for the past few days, but their gathering was portrayed differently on social media.
“We were sitting at one place for the last few days, from where social media took it away. No separate party has emerged from the National Conference,” he said.
Gurezi said the legislators had brought several issues to the notice of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and party president Farooq Abdullah.
“We brought some issues before the Chief Minister and Farooq Sahib. They have assured us that some issues, whether political or otherwise, will be addressed immediately, while others will be dealt with gradually,” he said.
Several NC legislators had arrived at the Chief Minister’s official residence earlier in the day to meet party president Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah amid growing discontent within the ruling party.
