Hope Omar will reconsider decision: Ajay Kumar Sadhotra

Jammu, Aug 17: Senior National Conference leader and former minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra Saturday hoped that the party’s vice president and the former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah would respect aspirations of party workers and J&K people by reconsidering his decision and would contest ensuing assembly elections.

He was responding to media queries on the sidelines of a party event at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan here. Regarding the chief ministerial and other candidates, the former minister, however, asserted that the call would be taken by the Parliamentary Board, in consonance with true democratic spirits of taking everyone on board, before taking all important decisions.

Sadhotra said that NC leaders and party workers had been urging the former Chief Minister to fight upcoming elections as he was a beacon of hope for them. “This happened in a recent workers’ meeting also,” he added.

Sadhotra asserted that NC was fully prepared for elections and became the voice of people, who wanted change. He stated that the first list of candidates would be out before notification for the first phase and added that the party would fight to form a government on its own. “But in democracy, people are real masters. They will decide what they want,” he said.

Former minister reiterated that the decision about pre-poll alliance and whether both Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar would contest, would be taken by the Parliamentary Board.

Earlier, NC leaders made a passionate appeal to the party vice president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to reconsider his decision not to contest upcoming elections to the Legislative Assembly till Jammu and Kashmir remained a Union Territory, stating that his leadership had been a beacon of hope for the people in this part of the country.

“The unwavering commitment of Omar Abdullah in restoration of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir and the echo of his strong voice at multiple levels has been equally instrumental, apart from the unequivocal directions of the Supreme Court, in the Election Commission of India announcing the three phase election schedule,” senior National Conference leaders said in a joint statement, issued from Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan here this afternoon.

Besides NC additional general secretary and former minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, the signatories to the joint statement included four zonal presidents of Jammu province Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo former Minister, Javed Ahmed Rana former Deputy Chairman Legislative Council, Ram Paul and Abdul Gani Malik, both former ministers.

The senior leaders stated, “Omar Abdullah doesn’t only reflect the urges and aspirations of the National Conference rank and file but also that of the people of both the regions of Jammu and Kashmir, irrespective of religion, caste or creed. Omar’s forward looking vision and decisive leadership besides commitment to democratic values and the welfare of the people has hugely influenced the policies of the party and therefore his stewardship at this crucial juncture assumes greater significance,” they added.

Reaffirming their unwavering support and commitment to the party vice president, the senior leaders exuded confidence that with his dynamic leadership, the National Conference would emerge stronger in the upcoming elections, which would change the destiny of Jammu and Kashmir and pave way for restoration of its pristine glory as a full-fledged State that had been jewel in the crown of India.

“We urge Omar Abdullah to respect the aspirations of the millions of NC workers in general and the people of J&K in particular to reconsider his decision, as his participation is not just a matter of personal choice but a reflection of the collective will of the party that is a mass movement with history of service and sacrifice for the people,” the NC leaders said.

They hoped that under the leadership of Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir would get the statehood and the rights of the people back. “Together we will script a new saga of peace, progress, development and prosperity”, the statement asserted.