NC, allies demand room to govern

Srinagar, Apr 4: The ruling National Conference (NC) and its allies today appealed that the mandate of the people should be respected and that the elected government should not be pushed to wall.

Briefing media persons after a joint meeting of the legislators of NC, Congress and independents, Tanvir Sadiq, Chief Spokesman of NC, said, “The mandate given by the people to the elected government should not be undermined at any level.”

The meeting was convened in the backdrop of the transfer of 48 JKAS officers by the Lieutenant Governor (LG) administration a few days back.  The ruling party and its allies are not happy with the transfers saying such transfers are within the jurisdiction of the elected government only.

During his media interaction, Tanvir Sadiq said, “National Conference legislature party meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Sahib. Legislators of alliance partners also took part.  NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah Sahib was also present. Two important resolutions were passed. The waqf board bill passed in Parliament was strongly opposed.  We said this bill is against the minority of this country.”

He added that the second resolution said that the mandate given by the people in the October 2024 assembly polls should be respected. “People in large numbers enthusiastically took part in the assembly elections. The top leadership of the country praised them for that.  If somebody rejects that mandate or undermines it then he is disrespecting that mandate. We repeatedly say that our mandate has to be respected at every level. Our coordination whether with Delhi or LG administration is based on our efforts that the problems of the people should get solved. Our coordination or our silence should not be taken as our weakness. We should not be pushed to the wall. This is our appeal and we are making this appeal for the last time,” the NC Chief Spokesperson said.

Congress leader and MLA, Nizam-u-Din Bhat told the media that the legislators’ meeting discussed threadbare the sensitive issues obtaining in Jammu and Kashmir -whether that be respecting the institutions or public mandate or whether the enforcement of constitution or law. “As he (Tanvir Sadiq) said, resolutions were passed unanimously. He also said that we stand behind the Chief Minister. And if there is anything untoward to which we have taken exception, the alliance will take a call on the floor of the assembly. Assembly is the only forum after parliament where you have to represent people's aspirations, respect their dignity and honour and give the popular government full space to function. We will take a call in the assembly,” he said.

The meeting of the legislators was held at the official residence of Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Singh.