NC terms LS elections as decisive battle against communal forces

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 20: Provincial President Devender Singh Rana and Minister for Planning and Development Ajay Sadhotra today urged National Conference cadre to redouble their efforts and rededicate themselves for grand success of coalition candidates, saying ensuing Lok Sabha elections are a decisive battle against communal forces.
“We have to grow as a progressive and forward looking nation”, Mr Rana  said, adding that this is only possible when myopic tendencies are not only eschewed but fought unitedly.
Mr Rana was addressing party functionaries and senior workers of Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar, Banihal, Udhampur, Reasi and Kathua at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan this evening.
He lauded the people for braving provocative overtures of divisive forces from time to time  by maintaining unity  and hoped this spirit to be maintained in days to come when frustrated elements will employ all ploys to make themselves relevant in the elections. “We have seen with disgust, these forces raking up frivolous issues and exploiting the public sentiment by raising the bogey of religion being in danger”, he said.
The Provincial President recalled how vested interests were exploiting contentious issues during elections to polarize the situation. “This tendency has unfortunately gained currency across the country which is cause of concern for all those who believe in oneness of the society in which all sections of people live with a sense of honour and dignity”, he said, while exhorting the party cadre to foil the attempts of these elements with full might.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Planning and Development Ajay Sadhotra asked the party workers to fan out in their constituencies, make people aware about the achievements registered during over past five years and schemes being in different stages of implementation to steer Jammu and Kashmir to new era of progress.
The Minister gave an overview of schemes undertaken for welfare of the people and said the process will gain further momentum in years to come. He hoped that people will exercise their democratic right in a big way and elect right candidates who can deliver at the national level.
Senior leaders and legislators Abdul Gani Malik and Khalid Najeeb Suharwardhy, while addressing the functionaries, emphasized the need for synergy between coalition parties at the grass roots level to ensure befitting victory of the alliance candidates.
Meanwhile, prominent trade union leader and President J&K Trade Union Front Mohammed Gafoor Dar joined National Conference along with his associates and pledged to carry forward the party’s cherished agenda across length and breadth of the State.
Welcoming Mr Gafoor in the party fold, Provincial President Devender Singh Rana exuded confidence that joining of right thinking people will further strengthen the cadre and help overcoming challenges confronted to the State.
Earlier, Mr Gafoor met the Chief Minister and Working President of National Conference Omar Abdullah and expressed the wish of his organization to work for realizing the cherished goal set by the party for dignity of people and prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir.
Minister for Planning, Ajay Sadhotra, Sr State Vice Presidents, Surjeet Singh Slathia, Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Shah Bukhari, Kr. Rachpal Singh and  Bimla Luthra were among others present on the occasion.