Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, May 20: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today ordered lifting of ban on Short Message Service (SMS) in the State and said that his Government would take drastic corrective measures to bring National Conference (NC) close to the party cadres and masses.
After attending daylong meeting of the party workers to review the debacle of the party in the Parliament elections and suggest corrective measures, Chief Minister wrote on microblogging social networking site twitter: “On a separate note in continuation with the corrective measures based on the feedback from people I’ve ordered the lifting of the SMS ban.”
The ban on SMS was imposed in 2010 after large scale protests in Kashmir valley during which over 100 youth were killed in police firing across Kashmir valley. The ban was imposed as Government felt the pre-paid cell phone SMS is used to fuel the trouble in Kashmir valley.
Earlier while speaking at the party workers meeting, Omar said that drastic corrective measures would be taken to bring his party closer to its cadres and the common masses. He said that ways and means would be evolved to engage with the people and involve them in governance related issues.
Chief Minister said that he would work day and night to make a comeback for his party in the forthcoming Assembly elections in the State. He said that he understands that sentiments of people especially youth have been hurt that led to the defeat of NC candidates in the polls. He said that he will leave no stone unturned to take measures to address the grievances of the youth of the State.
Omar said that there are some genuine grievances of the people and he would work tirelessly as a soldier of the people to ensure that the trust and faith that was reposed in him and in his party would be upheld and justice done.
Chief Minister said that his party learnt lessons from defeat in 2002 Assembly elections and party came to power in 2008 after rectifying the issues. He expressed confidence that his party will make historic come back in 2014 Assembly elections with the support of people and hard work of his party workers.
Omar told the meeting that his priority will be to address the hurt sentiments and grievances of the youth. He said that he would take the youth on board to evolve solutions to every single problem that they have highlighted personally to him by reaching out in the last few days through over 2000 emails.
The Working Committee meeting that began this morning at Nawa-i-Subh party headquarters of the NC continued for eight hours. The meeting was chaired by NC President Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Working President Omar Abdullah. The meeting was attended by Provincial leadership, Ministers, MLAs, MLCs, District Presidents and Block Presidents. The meeting was held to discuss the poll debacle and seek feedback for formulating a future course of action to correct the wrongs.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah on the occasion assured the workers that NC would bounce back and come up to the expectations of the common masses. He hoped that party will make a comeback in a spectacular manner.
Abdullah announced that the party leadership would launch a comprehensive set of organizational measures and mechanisms to constantly seek suggestions and alleviate the grievances of the party cadre and office-bearers. He announced that he will be present at the NC Headquarters in Srinagar two days a week to meet party workers and office bearers.
Earlier there was pandemonium in the meeting as the district and block presidents of the party strongly opposed future coalition with Congress party as they said that it is disastrous for the party. The party workers spoke during the meeting and expressed their views on poll debacle and suggested the corrective measures.
Sources said that block and district presidents said that coalition with Congress party has not worked on the ground and it proved disastrous for the party. They suggested against future coalition with Congress party.
Sources said that the workers demanded drastic change in the party structure and demanded that party president Dr Farooq Abdullah should take the command of the party and should also be nominated as Chief Ministerial candidate for the forthcoming Assembly elections.
Earlier in the morning, NC supporters shouted anti-party slogans outside the party headquarters. They alleged that party top leadership has ignored them and the recent defeat was the outcome of their anti-people policies. They also shouted that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should resign and Dr Abdullah should be appointed as Chief Minister.
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