Party to get immense benefit from new entrants: Sajjad
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 7: The Peoples Conference (JKPC) led by former Minister, Sajjad Lone, today got a major boost when four former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leaders including two former Parliamentarians and former Deputy Mayor of Srinagar joined the party.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference on the occasion of joining of the five leaders, Lone said that the party is hopeful that it will come up to the expectations of people.
“We are hopeful that collectively as a team we will come up to the expectations of the people and will also face the challenges that the J&K is facing since the last 2 years,” he said.
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Those who joined the party include two former PDP Members of Parliament, Nazir Ahmad Laway from South Kashmir and Mir Mohammad Fayaz from North Kashmir, Safina Beigh wife of former PDP leader and Deputy Chief Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, former PDP lawmaker Advocate Murtaza Khan and former Deputy Mayor of Srinagar, Sheikh Imran.
Welcoming the leaders into the fold, Lone said that the organisation will immensely benefit from their political experience and expand the outreach of the party beyond its strongholds.
“The party is emerging as a formidable political force to reckon with. My dream is to see this caravan of change stronger. We will make more announcements in the coming weeks,” he said
On the question of forcible opening of shops and other establishments in Lal Chowk on the eve of the second anniversary of abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, Sajjad said that “in a democratic set up we will not endorse force.”
“We are against it in both the ways, be it forcible closure or forcible opening, we have been stating that we are against any such forceful actions,” he said.
On the issue of new directions from the administration with regard to the passport clearance and jobs, Sajjad said that the party has cleared its stand on the issue already and stands against it.
“I don’t know what the Government is doing, it was there even before, however, if there is anything new, we strongly condemn that, we have cleared our stand on it,” he said.
With regard to the renaming of schools in J&K on eve of August 15, Sajjad said that they are against the renaming spree and rather believes in delivery on the ground. “We are against renaming, we believe in action on the ground, rest it is just old wine in new bottles,” he said.
On the occasion, only a few among the new entrants spoke and one among them was Nazir Ahmad Laway who was earlier associated with the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDD) but was expelled for anti-party activities.
He said that after the death of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the PDP was left scattered and that he along with Mir Mohammad Fayaz had started looking for better options.
“The party got scattered after the death of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. We were left with no option, but to join the JKPC. We have been thinking over it for 2 years; JKPC is a party which has been active for the last 50 years and here we are,” he said.
“There is a leadership deficit in J&K. Politics of J&K needs new ideas and new energy. I am convinced that PC chairman Sajjad Gani Lone is the only leader who can take us out of this impasse and restore the rights of people”, Laway added.
DDC Chairman Baramulla Safina Beigh said: “JKPC is the only party standing for the interests of the people of J&K. The need of the hour is that the people of Kashmir stand with Chairman Sajjad Gani Lone and help him realise his grand vision for the progress of J&K and protecting the rights and dignity of its people.”
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