Will continue to strive for restoration of JK’s identity: Dr Farooq

Srinagar, May 3: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Party President, and Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Thursday presided over a virtual meeting of the party’s provincial Committee members. The meeting lasted for five hours and was presided by Party President Dr Farooq Abdullah. Party Vice President Omar Abdullah was also present.
The meeting was conducted virtually through video conferencing mode by Party Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani. Party’s Provincial members regardless of their location participated in the meeting, while as the Party President Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Additional General Secretary Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Provincial President Kashmir Nasir Aslam Wani, Central Secretary Irfan Shah, Party Members of Parliament Muhammad Akbar Lone and Hassnain Masoodi, Provincial Vice President Muhammad Syed Akhoon, Provincial Secretary Showkat Mir, Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar, Provincial vice president Syed Tauqeer Shah, North Zone Vice President Dr. Sajad Uri, YNC Provincial President Salman Ali Sagar, Salam Ud Din Bajad, District President Srinagar Peer Afaq Ahmed, Dr Syed, Shabir Ahmad of legal cell attended the real-time virtual interaction jointly from the Party Head Quarters Nawa-e-Subha, Srinagar.
While interacting with the provincial functionaries, the Party president said the entire region is at a breaking point due to the aftermath of the august 5 measures, predatory effects of the Covid-19 induced crises and the ravaging impact of severe weather conditions on horticulture and allied sectors. “People of the state are caught in a deadly quagmire of economic and political uncertainty. Administrative unaccountability and development stagnation have become the norm of the day. The mislaid rules, regulations, and off-hand orders have put Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh on the path of terminal alienation. It is the youth that are facing the major brunt of the unconcerned attitude of the incumbent government. Nobody other than us in the National Conference can realize the amount of beleagurement; Jammu and Kashmir has suffered at the hands of the present ruling regime, since it was the National Conference which had firmly established the state on democratic and constitutional foundations. The seeds of an empowered Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh were sown by us,” he said adding “Being fashioned in the heroic mould of Sher-e-Kashmir, we won’t give in on the peaceful and constitutional struggle for the restoration of our rights. Our priority will remain the restoration of Statehood and restoration of Articles 370, 35-A. The idea of fostering peace, prosperity and development in J&K is elusive until people’s infringed constitutional rights aren’t restored. There can be no trade off between the political aspirations of the people and development; both have to go hand in hand. There is no shift in our party agenda on serving people, and protecting the unique political and cultural identity of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Dr Farooq also exhorted the party functionaries to give all support to the efforts of Administration in the battle against Covid-19 and asked the party functionaries, workers and delegates to help people in whatever way they could. Extolling the party functionaries and MPs for their efforts against the ravaging impact of Covid on JK economy, he asked the members to deepen their bond with the people by sharing in their worries and taking up the issues faced by them at all appropriate forums. “We haven’t won the battle against Covid yet. We are halfway towards eliminating it, the war is on. It requires strengthening of testing, tracing and treatment mechanisms. Stepping up of vaccination drives also holds the key towards improving the herd immunity. Administration is doing its best in combating the menace, a lot needs to be done. But people cannot absolve themselves of their duties. Emancipated societies ought to be self aware of their duties towards society. The best the people of JK can do is to follow the required Covid -19 protocol, government advisories and shun vaccine inhibition. I hope the party functionaries will take the lead in getting themselves and their families vaccinated,” he said.
He also stated that the Party MPs have been devotedly releasing MP-LAD funds to strengthen the efforts of the administration in the battle against the Covid-19. “The funds were released to make good of the deficiency of critical Covid care equipment, oxygen plants, and other facilities. I had even shot a letter to LG as well seeking augmentation of facilities at Covid care centers across J&K. I had also brought to his notice the deficiency of manpower in health facilities. The party MPs, including myself have repeatedly been asking the government to make good the deficiency of Medical and Para medical Staff by engaging medical and para medical graduates and post graduates on dignified terms without subsiding normal engagement rules and criterion. The party MPs and functionaries have also been raising issues concerning people from time to time at all appropriate forums, and will continue to do so,” he said. He expressed concern over the economic losses suffered by horticulturists across Kashmir due to severe weather conditions over the past week.
On the issue of the party’s membership drive and youth body elections, Party President said the exercise has suffered a temporary halt due to Covid. “Once the situation assuages completely, the process will pick up again with the same vigor and vitality. It is the well-being of people that matters to us first and foremost,” he said.
Omar in his interaction with the provincial members and special invitees said the party hasn’t accepted August 5 measures as fate accomplice. “We haven’t changed our stance on the measures of August 5. We haven’t relinquished our peaceful, constitutional, and non violent battle for the restoration of our constitutional rights. We will fight prudently. Our agenda based on integrity and service remains unchanged as well. However there is a great need to strengthen our party cadre of committed men and women for reaching to masses with our programme and to rise to the new compelling needs of the teeming and toiling masses of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh,” he said adding “virtual meetings have proved very handy in having a window of discourse in place to discuss various issues concerning the people particularly in the wake of present pressing situation.”
On occasion the party functionaries decided to come up with relief support to aid workers impacted by Covid-19. Various functionaries including the Party President pledged monetary support to the relief fund.