Farooq to take final call
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 27: The National Conference could participate in future meetings of the Delimitation Commission as there was an overwhelming view in the Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting of the party held today virtually that the party should associate itself with the Commission.
Six-hour virtual meeting of the NC CWC was presided over by party president and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah and joined by Omar Abdullah besides other senior party leaders.
“There was an overwhelming view in the CWC that the National Conference should associate itself with the Delimitation Commission to project its view point or, otherwise, two BJP members including Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and Jugal Kishore, MP Jammu-Poonch will have their say,” insiders told the Excelsior.
In view of majority view that the party should participate in future meetings of the Delimitation Commission, Dr Farooq Abdullah said he will set up a committee comprising senior party leaders to take a view before deciding on the subject, they said, adding the indications were that the National Conference might review its decision of boycotting the Delimitation Commission.
The party leaders were of the view that dissociation with the Delimitation Commission will not give the National Conference a chance to project its view point on delimitation of Assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir. However, they left final call on whether to associate with the Commission or not to Dr Farooq Abdullah.
Three National Conference Lok Sabha members from Kashmir and two BJP MPs from Jammu region are Associate Members of the Delimitation Commission. The NC members include Dr Farooq Abdullah, Mohammad Akbar Lone and Hasnain Masoodi.
The NC had boycotted first meeting of the Commission called by its chairperson Justice (Retired) Ranjana Prakash Desai in February this year. However, both the BJP members had attended the meeting.
Earlier, the NC was of the view that since it has challenged Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act in the Supreme Court it wouldn’t associate itself with the Delimitation Commission.
In March this year after completion of one-year term of the Delimitation Commission, the Union Law Ministry had extended its term by another year i.e. till March 2022.
A party handout said during the course of a marathon six hour working committee meeting, the working committee members discussed party affairs and also deliberated on the prevailing political situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The members present in the meeting reflected on the far-reaching political, economic consequences confronted by the people of JK in the shape of skidding the economy from the path of growth and soaring unemployment.
Dr. Farooq stressed on the mitigation and compensation of the losses incurred by the people of J&K due to the current situation. Stressing on unity and common purpose as a potent weapon to combat the virus spread, he said the ongoing situation is a call to action for everyone to work together with political class no exception to it. He appreciated the health workers on the frontlines and the personnel manning essential services for their spirit of collaboration saying the efforts of the lacs of ground staffers, health workers and other frontline workers portrays the truism about indisputability of collective action in combating the emergencies.
Party Vice President Omar Abdullah, apart from raising other issues, expressed sympathy with the families whose loved ones were devoured in the current COVID pandemic.
While interacting, the members raised the issue of development deficit, administrative inertia, brutality against tribal community and infringement of their forest rights, widespread unemployment, plight of traders, horticulturalists and marginal artisans and hawkers, and impressed upon the incumbent JK Government to govern the people by the principles and rules laid in the constitution of the country.
On the occasion, the members reiterated that the path of progress and peace cannot be achieved until the centre addresses the political and developmental aspirations of the people of J&K. The leaders said that there can be no trade off between the development and political aspirations of the people of J&K. on the occasion, the party WC members unanimously adopted the following resolutions:
The members sought restoration of Articles 370, 35-A. A resolution noted that the idea of ushering peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir is elusive until Articles 370, 35-A aren’t restored as the articles bore great psychological and symbolic significance for the people of Jammu and Kashmir; more to the point the articles also display India’s asymmetric federalism, which grants differential rights to certain federal sub units, often in recognition to their distinctive identity and historical background.
They expressed concern over the unabated rise in the unemployed educated, and skilled youth of Jammu and Kashmir, saying never has the youth of J&K felt so disempowered, dejected and discarded as it is at present. The resolution demanded taking of immediate steps to give a sense of belonging to the local youth to help them achieve their full potential and through them enable Jammu and Kashmir a rightful place in the union of states within the country.
They rued widespread unaccountability on ground in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh attributing it to the unconnected and airdropped bureaucrats, unconscious and unacquainted to local topography and developmental needs of people.
Those who were present in the virtual meeting at party headquarters Nawa e Subha included General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, Additional General Secretary Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani and party MPs Muhammad Akbar Lone and Hasnain Masoodi, Mohammad Syed Akhoon and others. 56 working committee members including special invitees from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh participated in the meeting through video conferencing including senior leaders A R Rather, Mohammad Shafi Uri, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Devender Singh Rana, SS Slathia, Ajay Sadhotra, Sakina Itoo, GA Shah, Mubarak Gul, Shammi Oberoi, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Shameema Firdous, Qamar Ali Akhoon, Sajjad Kichloo, Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy, Nazir Gurezi, Bashir Veeri, Ali Mohammad Dar and Bimla Luthra.
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