Srinagar, Jun 27: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president, Tariq Hamid Karra on Friday said the rejoining of senior leaders in Jammu and Kashmir will help strengthen the party in their respective areas as well as in areas of their allies.
Senior leaders Taj Mohiuddin, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori, and Haji Farooq Mir on Friday returned to the grand old party. They were formally welcomed into the party by AICC General Secretary in charge of J&K affairs, Dr Syed Naseer Hussain; JKPCC chief Tariq Hameed Karra; and AICC General Secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir.
Speaking to reporters here after the official joining, Karra said every person carries influence in their area and community, and every party seeks to make full use of that influence. “But as far as their (returnees’) relationship is concerned, they were in Congress for a long time and stayed for a long time,” he said.
He added that the leaders had later left the Congress and formed another organisation. “Today, they expressed that they made a mistake and apologised for it,” he said.
“So, as far as our relationship is concerned, we know that they have a good influence in their own areas,” Karra said. “In fact, they have an influence in their allies’ areas as well. So, we have full faith that Congress will strengthen in their own areas as well as in their allies’ areas.”
The J&K Congress chief further said that many leaders who had left Congress or joined other parties continue to maintain contact. “And as I said, we have a process here. There is a procedure here. There is a case-to-case evaluation of the leaders,” he said. “Some people are in the pipeline in that evaluation as well. And in the future, there are many people who are in contact with the party.”
Karra, who is the MLA from Central Shalteng constituency, said that when senior leaders join, their workers and supporters come along. “So, if one person comes into the party, they don’t come alone. The people who are associated with them, who have an influence, come together. Now, if Taj sahab or Saroori sahab joined here today, it doesn’t mean that they joined individually or as one person. They have their own circle. You will see that circle yourself. When we give them a programme and go to their areas, you will see for yourself that there is a significant influence on people of them.”
Responding to a question about Congress’s potential share in the future J&K cabinet, Karra said, “No, this is not a matter of share or alliance. We are on a principled stand. Even before the government was formed, and even before the election, we had said that until statehood is achieved, we will not be a part of the cabinet. This is a principled stand. This is not a matter of share.”
