Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Mar 24: Upping the ante, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader and Zadibal legislator Abid Ansari today walked out of party’s meeting held here in connecting with upcoming by-polls at the party headquarters to protest the presence of senior PDP leader and Works Minister Naeem Akhtar.
Ansari, who is the brother of Late PDP leader Iftikhar Hussain and uncle of another party legislator Imran Raza Ansari, has been at odds with Akhtar since past many months. The rift between the two leaders of the PDP came to fore soon after Youth Services and Sports Minister Imran Ansari tendered his resignation to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.
Asserting he has nothing personal against Akhtar, the MLA Zadibal said his “fight” is against Akhtar’s “role” in the party. “Our party is getting weakened and is losing public support because of him. We have to take mission of Mufti forward; he sweated in his life to make PDP strong. But due to Naeem Akhtar, our workers are getting disgruntled with the party. We don’t want to annoy our workers because of Naeem Akhtar,” he said.
Sources said Ansari since 2015 is also lobbying for securing ministerial berth. However, he has not publicly talked about it so far. His nephew, Imran Ansari – an influential Shia cleric – tendered his resignation after reshuffle in Ministerial portfolios. Ansari claimed Akhtar’s presence in the party is damaging it.
“Naeem Sahab is not entertaining our workers. Till the issue is not resolved, I will stand by my protest. I won’t sit in the meeting which is attended by Naeem Sahab. It will be an insult to my workers,” he said. The Zadibal legislator said he is indulging in indiscipline by speaking against senior leader and also Minister.
“I am not speaking against the party or president. But against a person who has no contribution towards the party. I want to safeguard the party,” he said and demanded sacking of Akhtar. In reply to a question whether he has informed party president, Mehbooba Mufti about the matter, Ansari said: “It might be in the consideration of party president. And Madam has to think about the workers of the party.”
Ansari also hit out at party leaders and said they are “gutless” to speak against Akhtar publicly. “Privately they always speak against him. Nobody in the party has as yet proved me wrong by speaking against Naeem Akhtar. Had I been wrong there would have been a reaction to it from the party,” he said.
Ansari’s fresh rage against Akhtar and walking out of party meeting ahead of crucial Srinagar and Anantnag parliamentary by-polls could put PDP in trouble as his family has significant following in Shia pockets of Srinagar and Budgam districts.
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