Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 31: Lauding the people of Jammu for the overwhelming support and massive mandate to the National Conference in Jammu province in the District Development Council elections, the Provincial President Devender Singh Rana today exuded confidence that the mandate of the people would be respected in the larger interest of democracy.
“We hope Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, who has ensured peaceful polls, will ensure the will of the people prevails and the people’s verdict is respected”, Rana said at a press conference in reply to a question at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here this evening.
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When told about certain political parties claiming that the National Conference would be heading only two district councils across J&K, Rana retorted back saying this speaks of the vicious mindset since the results clearly show otherwise.
He the National Conference has highest strike rate of 41% followed by the BJP’s 33% and Congress’s 14% thereby clearly defying the people’s mandate. Reversing public mandate by political manoeuvring will be undemocratic, he said hoping that the administration would take note of such claims and facilitate democracy to prevail as per the wishes of the people, which they have demonstrated explicitly.
Former Ministers Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Surjeet Singh Slathia and senior leaders were present in the press conference.
Rana expressed gratitude to the people of Jammu province in reposing their trust in the forward looking policies of the National Conference, saying the party will continue to work for their dignity, empowerment and welfare.
He said the National Conference is a pan J&K party, which is reflected by presence of its vast cadre in both the regions as also in Ladakh. Peoples’ unflinching support in the just concluded polls is yet another affirmation of their trust in the party which has improved its vote share in the Jammu Province and bagged seats across the region. He said the party has fought for the rights of the people under the ambit of the Constitution and remained bearer of democracy and secularism in most testing times. Even the resolution for autonomy had been passed under the Constitution in a most democratic manner, he said, adding vicious and motivated campaign against it by the BJP has fallen flat.
To a question, Rana rubbished the claims of the BJP about its performance in the elections, saying the vote percentage shows differently. He said the BJP got votes in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the credibility of the local BJP leaders of J&K is all time low.
He said the BJP described the DDC elections as a referendum to the political decisions of 2019 and said drubbing at the hands of electors have opened their eyes, thus making them to claim these polls were been fought for development. He also assailed the BJP for lowering the political discourse and polarising the atmosphere.
“Creating wedge among the people on religious basis or regional basis can have adverse consequences, not in the interests of Jammu & Kashmir and the country”, the Provincial President said.
Replying to a question on the performance of National Conference in the Jammu Province, he said the party is well placed by bagging 26 seats.
The Provincial President said the vote of the people is support to the tireless and strenuous efforts of National Conference in steering Jammu and Kashmir on the path of holistic development and political empowerment of the people. He recalled that whenever elections to grass roots level democratic institutions like Panchayats were held in Jammu and Kashmir these took place under the governments headed by Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Dr Farooq Abdullah and lately under Omar Abdullah.
“These historic facts expose the malicious propaganda being unleashed by the BJP”, Rana said while complimenting the people for rejecting divisive politics. The massive public support has further strengthened the resolve of National Conference to work for upholding the cherished values of secularism, he added.
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