Srinagar, May 6 (NVI): The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday hit back at the ruling Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) over the recent Rajya Sabha election controversy, terming the accusations against it as “misplaced, inaccurate and counterproductive.”
PDP leader and MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Para accused the NC of attempting to divert attention from “substantive concerns,” including the Siraj-ul-Aloom issue and the alleged removal of Urdu from official records, by focusing on the Rajya Sabha voting episode.
He also alleged that the NC had “disintegrated” the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) and ensured the exclusion of the PDP from the INDIA alliance arrangement during the Assembly elections.
“Against this backdrop, it is clear that the PDP did not owe cooperation to the NC. Yet, we extended unconditional support despite being aware of internal dissent within the National Conference,” Para said.
He maintained that blaming the PDP for the Rajya Sabha outcome was unfair and said the “failure lies close to Nawai Subh,” referring to the Chief Minister’s office headed by Omar Abdullah.
Para said PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had acted with “magnanimity” by neither abstaining from voting nor imposing conditions on the NC.
Questioning the NC’s criticism over the appointment of polling agents, he said the Rajya Sabha voting process was open and transparent and that key decisions rested with the NC leadership.
“If the NC’s complaint is that the PDP did not appoint an agent for its votes, then what would make them trust a PDP-appointed agent if they are unwilling to trust PDP legislators themselves?” he asked.
Referring to past remarks by NC MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Para said the party had earlier admitted to lapses in clearly communicating its position during elections.
He alleged that targeting the PDP could serve the BJP’s larger political agenda of fragmenting opposition unity in Jammu and Kashmir.
Para also said that if political circumstances change in future and the NC requires PDP’s support, it could face an “awkward moment” after criticising the party and its leadership.
Addressing Abdullah, he urged the Chief Minister to focus on governance rather than “dwelling on one lost Rajya Sabha seat.”
“The government would do well to ensure that its MLAs and MPs deliver effective governance,” he added.(NVI)
