Says MLAs’ meeting a friendly gathering
Srinagar, Oct 31: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) Kashmir Provincial President Showkat Ahmad Mir on Saturday dismissed reports of rebellion and growing dissent within the party following the recent Cabinet expansion, asserting that the National Conference remains united and legislators are free to raise concerns before the leadership.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Srinagar, Mir said a recent meeting of party legislators was merely a friendly gathering ahead of the Darbar Move and had been unnecessarily portrayed as a revolt.
“One of our legislators invited colleagues to his residence for lunch and discussions on the prevailing situation. Some MLAs attended and exchanged views before deciding to nominate senior colleagues to convey their concerns to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. There was no rebellion,” he said.
Mir dismissed varying claims on social media about the number of legislators who attended the meeting, saying the figures being circulated were speculative and there was “no truth” to reports of a revolt.
“Nobody spoke against the party organisation or the government,” he said.
He said legislators had every right to discuss issues within the party and that any concerns would be addressed through internal mechanisms.
“The National Conference is a disciplined organisation, and whatever concerns exist will be resolved internally,” he said.
On reports of dissatisfaction over the Cabinet expansion, Mir said differences of opinion were natural in a democratic organisation and should not be seen as a threat to party unity.
“Everyone has expectations, but that does not mean the family breaks apart. Our legislators remain important members of the National Conference,” he said.
He also rejected reports that MLAs were planning to pass a resolution against party decisions, describing such claims as speculation.
“There is no rift, no fighting and no dispute within the National Conference. Internal democracy allows everyone to express their views, but portraying such discussions as a revolt is completely wrong,” he said.
Clarifying the controversy over the post of National Conference General Secretary, Mir said Ali Mohammad Sagar’s continuation in the role was a temporary arrangement necessitated by local body elections in Kargil.
He said party president Farooq Abdullah had earlier nominated Mubarak Gul as General Secretary, but Gul sought time to consult party workers. With local body elections announced in Kargil, the party required an authorised signatory for Forms A and B, prompting the leadership to allow Sagar to continue until further orders.
“The decision was taken solely to ensure that nomination-related documents could be issued without delay,” Mir said.
He added that the arrangement should not be linked to reports of internal differences within the party.
Mir also said the National Conference had reached an understanding with the Islamic School of Kargil for the upcoming local body elections and would contest all 17 seats under the NC banner.
On questions over the authenticity of Farooq Abdullah’s signature on the order, Mir said the directive had been issued by the party president and transmitted electronically.
“There should be no doubt about its authenticity,” he said.
Commenting on the Cabinet expansion and restoration of statehood, Mir said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was working within existing constitutional limitations and expressed hope that restoration of statehood would create scope for accommodating more legislators in the government—(KNO)
