Pulwama, Aug 27: National Conference (NC) President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday welcomed the participation of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI)-backed candidates in the upcoming assembly elections, terming it a “positive development”.
Dr Abdullah made these remarks while speaking to the media persons in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, where he accompanied the NC’s nominated candidate for the Rajpora Assembly constituency, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Mir, to the office of the Returning Officer for the filing of nomination papers.
Dr Farooq urged Jamaat-e-Islami to “come forward and directly contest elections, rather than supporting candidates covertly”. “They should take part in elections openly rather than supporting others secretly,” he said, adding that it is a good sign if JeI is contesting the upcoming elections.
He suggested that JeI should work towards restoring normalcy in Jammu & Kashmir.
The NC Chief expressed confidence that the NC-Congress coalition will perform well in the forthcoming elections. “We will perform better, the success is in the hands of God,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Dr Abdullah also accompanied the NC’s nominated candidate for the Pampore Assembly constituency, Hasnain Masoodi, to the office of the Returning Officer in Awantipora. There, he discussed the coalition between NC and Congress, stressing the importance of flexibility in such alliances.
“In a coalition, you have to be flexible because to achieve one thing, you have to sacrifice another,” he said, expressing satisfaction that the coalition had reached a final decision on seat sharing.
The former chief minister expressed optimism that the NC-Congress coalition would emerge successful in the upcoming elections and form the government in Jammu & Kashmir to “address the issues facing people”.
Dr Farooq reiterated the NC’s commitment to the restoration of Article 370. “It took a party 70 years to abrogate Article 370, and we will continue to fight for its restoration for 100 years if necessary,” he said
He added that the NC put its election manifesto before the people and the party will work to carry it forward.
