WAJAHAT SHABIR
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Sunday held a special meeting of its legislators at the Banquet Hall in Srinagar, chaired by party president Dr Farooq Abdullah.
The meeting was attended by Leader of the House and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, party General Secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar, Chief Whip Haji Mubarak Gul, and NC legislators. Congress legislator’s part of the coalition government, along with Independent MLAs supporting the government, also attended the meeting.
The meeting discussed the upcoming session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, beginning Monday, and chalked out a strategy for raising public issues, demands and other matters of importance in the House.
Addressing the legislators, Dr Farooq Abdullah urged them to accord priority to the concerns of the people and effectively highlights the issues, difficulties and demands of their respective constituencies during the Assembly session.
He said the Legislative Assembly is a forum for raising public concerns, seeking answers from the government and holding meaningful discussions on matters of public interest. He emphasised that the primary responsibility of legislators is to effectively articulate the people’s concerns in the House and seek solutions to their problems from the government.
The meeting further stressed that issues of public importance would be accorded priority during the upcoming session and that the concerns of the people would be raised effectively on the floor of the House.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, NC chief spokesperson and Zadibal MLA Tanvir Sadiq said the meeting was held as part of the party’s tradition ahead of every Assembly session to discuss issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir and the strategy for raising them in the House.
“As per the tradition, the legislative party meets before every session. The same way, this time also, Dr Farooq Abdullah met the legislature party,” Sadiq said.
He said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was present along with the Congress leadership, including JKPCC president Tariq Hameed Karra and party legislators, besides CPI(M) MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami and independent legislators.
“We had a good discussion. We discussed the issues of Jammu and Kashmir. It was a big discussion,” he said.
Sadiq said the legislators discussed how issues concerning the people should be presented in the Assembly, adding that separate discussions were also held among Congress legislators and with the Chief Minister. “All the major discussions were about how to present [the issues] in the House and how the people have mandated us to raise their issues,” he said.
He said the issues discussed would be taken up during the Assembly session beginning Monday. “The same issues will be raised in the Assembly from tomorrow,” Sadiq said.
On the alliance between the NC and Congress, Sadiq said there was no doubt about its strength and expressed confidence that the Assembly proceedings would run smoothly. “There is no doubt. It is a strong alliance. The Assembly will run well from tomorrow,” he said.
Asked about the Opposition’s preparations, Sadiq said the government was ready to respond to questions and issues raised in the House. “Opposition is ready. We will catch them. If they ask us on issues, Omar Abdullah’s government will answer them and will answer them well,” he said.
Sadiq said the government and legislators would remain focused on issues concerning the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “All the issues of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, everyone has an answer and they will talk about it in the Assembly from tomorrow,” he said.
Ahead of the Autumn Session of the J&K Legislative Assembly, I attended the JKNC Legislature Party meeting, chaired by our Party President, Qaid-e-Sani Jenab Dr. Farooq Abdullah Sahib, Omar Abdullah wrote on Facebook.
We discussed the legislative business ahead and the issues that matter most to our people. As legislators, our responsibility is to speak firmly for the rights, dignity and aspirations of the people of Jammu & Kashmir and to ensure that their concerns are heard in the House, he said.
We will approach this session with unity, purpose and a clear commitment to public welfare, development and accountable governance. The voice of the people will remain at the centre of our efforts, Omar said.
