‘NC, Congress, independents discuss issues to be raised in House’
Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Sept 20 :
The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) Legislature Party meeting, chaired by party president Dr Farooq Abdullah, concluded in Srinagar on Sunday ahead of the J&K Legislative Assembly session, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Congress legislators and other members in attendance.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, NC chief spokesperson and Zadibal MLA Tanvir Sadiq, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), 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.
The J&K Legislative Assembly is scheduled to begin its ten-day session on Monday, with one day off and a holiday on Sunday. The ruling alliance and the Opposition are expected to raise various issues related to governance, development and public concerns during the proceedings.—(KNO)