National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has managed to pacify the disgruntled legislators, terming their demands genuine and assuring them that the leadership would address their concerns.
The meeting lasted around two hours. After the meeting, the NC chief addressed a joint press conference with the legislators, in the presence of the chief minister. More than a dozen legislators met NC president and chief minister Omar Abdullah at Gupkar on Friday morning.
“I want to negate the news that the NC is a divided house. Our party is united. Soon after the cabinet expansion, several senior NC legislators criticised the move and later held a series of meetings, during which they discussed issues concerning the party and submitted a charter of demands to be presented to the party president. The legislators also discussed with the leadership their inability to fulfil the promises made to people who have given them a huge mandate.
The induction of four new ministers into the Omar Abdullah-led Jammu and Kashmir cabinet on October 27 triggered widespread discontent and protests within the ruling NC.
Those who are thinking that this party will split, I want to tell them this party hasn’t split in the past and this is not going to happen in the future,” said Farooq, flanked by the disgruntled legislators. Farooq said the demands of the legislators are genuine and they had been heard. “Their problems will be given due consideration and will be resolved, some immediately, while some demands will take time,” he said, adding that it was resolved that legislators will work to strengthen the party. The leaders said the party president had assured that all the issues would be resolved and will be given top priority.
