Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 22: Senior National Conference leader and former MLA from Surankote Assembly Constituency of Poonch district, Sayed Mushtaq Ahmed Shah Bukhari resigned from party over an argument with Party president Dr Farooq Abdullah over Pahari reservation issue during a meeting.
Bukhari, a two time MLA from Surankote in Poonch, had chaired a Pahari convention organized by Pahari Tribe ST Forum on Sunday in Jammu, in which over 300 delegates including J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina also participated as chief guest.
During the convention, Bukhari had stated,” We will not hesitate in supporting any party which will help the community in achieving its long standing demand of Scheduled Tribe status.”
Sources close to Bukhari said that the remarks of Bukhari irked the National Conference leadership and they sought explanation from him over his remarks.
Bukhari went to meet Party president Dr Farooq Abdullah at his residence in Jammu and had heated arguments over the issue of reservation to the Pahari people. He tendered resignation from the primary membership of the party and walked out of Abdullah’s residence.
Bulkari later claimed that he was ready for any sacrifice for the welfare of his people from Rajouri-Poonch.
Sources added that Bukhari’s resignation came after the party failed to do anything for the Pahari speaking people for the last 2-3 decades. He is one of the big names among political figures in district Poonch. He bags a big vote bank along with him.
” It is useless for me to remain with a party which is unable to give justice to the Pahari people which has been voting for the National Conference for decades,” Bukhari claimed.
” We will leave for Delhi to meet the Central Government under the banner of Pahari Tribe ST Forum shortly to push for Scheduled Tribe status before the holding of next assembly polls in J&K. WE are not ungrateful if Centre accepts our long pending demand,” Bukhari said.
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