Excelsior Correspondent
DARHAL, Apr 3: National Conference today stressed the crucial need of upholding secularism and isolating divisive forces, urging the people to unite and foil the machinations of elements inimical to peace and tranquility.
“Fragmenting society into bits and pieces in the name of religion and region is against the idea of Jammu and Kashmir and its most cherished composite ethos”, Provincial President Devender Singh Rana said while addressing a public meeting here this afternoon.
Senior National Conference leaders Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Th Rachpal Singh, Advocate Choudhry Liaqat and Shaffayat Khan also addressed the public meeting, convened as part of the campaign in favour of the Congress nominee for Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat, Raman Bhalla.
Rana said that those dividing the society on the basis of religion under the garb of ultra-nationalism were actually doing dis-service to the nation. He expressed concern over arrogant posturing of some elements under the mistaken belief of serving national interest and said this in fact harms the spirit of togetherness and tranquility. He said the State will progress only when the society at large maintains its time-tested heritage and isolates those creating wedge for petty political ends.
“Time has come when forces inimical to peace and unity are completely isolated”, Rana said, adding that political myopism can have dangerous ramifications for the country and the State like Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking on the occasion, senior leader and former Minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra emphasised the need for strengthening secular forces, saying this is imperative in a diverse State like Jammu and Kashmir which has undergone a traumatic phase due to disturbances.
Sadhotra said unity among people is essential for harmonious growth of the State, adding that divisive politics can endanger the social fabric, cause disenchantment and vitiate communal harmony. He said the State cannot afford division between communities this can progress only when people of all faiths and regions get fair deal and equal treatment in all spheres.
In his address, NC Central Secretary Th Rachpal Singh urged the National Conference cadre to work for forging amity between various segments of society and fighting divisive tendencies, as inclusiveness has all along been its fort.
Speaking on the occasion, Advocate Choudhry Liaqat said that time has come when secular forces should teach a befitting lesson to communal and opportunistic elements. He said politics of deceit and divisiveness has exposed anti-people political parties which have been hobnobbing clandestinely in the recent past to destabilise the State.
Senior leader Shaffayat Khan while addressing the gathering, said that those misusing religion for vote politics can’t be sincere to the people and expressed hope that such self seekers will be rejected in the ensuing elections.
Later, senior National Conference leaders, led by Rana visited Surankote and addressed the workers. They urged them to gear up for the upcoming polls and ensure victory of the Congress nominee, as per the decision of the party leadership, with huge margin.
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