Sajad Lone is like my son, will support him: Muzaffar Baig

Baramulla, May 5:  Former deputy chief minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig today announced his support to Peoples Conference (PC) and said that the party president Sajad Gani Lone is like his son.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of his workers meeting in Baramulla, Baig said that Sajad Lone met him two to three times. “I have decided to support him in the Lok Sabha (LS) polls. Sajad Lone is like my son, and if I do not support my own child, whom else would I support, the enemy," Baig said.

He said that he always prays and wishes victory for Sajad Lone in the LS elections. Notably, Sajad Lone has filed his nomination papers from Baramulla Parliament constituency as PC candidate for which the polls are scheduled on May 20.

Regarding his differences with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Muzaffar Hussain Baig said that it was a major dispute. "The basic reason for our dispute was her statement regarding not holding the national flag till J&K own flag is restored," he said.

Mehbooba Mufti in October 2020 made a statement that she would not raise the national flag until Jammu and Kashmir's flag, constitution and status (as under Article 370) were restored. "On the next day of her statement, I called Mehbooba Ji and told her that as long as we are in India, we have to hold his national flag," Baig said.

The former deputy chief minister, however, stated that despite having political differences, he treats Mehbooba Mufti as her sister and also showered praises for Iltija Mufto, the daughter of Mehbooba Mufti. "Iltija is a very intelligent girl and Waheed is also a good person," he said. He recalled an incident when he went to Mehboob Mufti's home to inquire about her mother's health. "Tears came in her (Mehbooba) eyes, and she said I am not alone," Baig recalled.

He, however, stated that these issues come up in politics and hoped that Sajad Lone will win the LS elections from north Kashmir. "In politics, such small issues keep happening. Issues happen within families as well, but these (domestic) disputes should not be given any hype or make them national disputes," Muzaffar Baig said.Meanwhile, Safeena Bai, wife of Muzaffar Baig who is also the DDC chairperson of Baramulla while addressing the workers launched an attack on the NC MP Muhammad Akbar Lone regarding the expenditure of his MP funds and alleged that Lone ignored Baramulla district in distribution of MP funds.

Earlier in April, Sajad Lone met Muzaffar Hussain Baig and his wife Safina Baig at their residence to seek support in ongoing Lok Sabha (LS) elections in north Kashmir’s Baramulla constituency.