NC Rules Out Pre-Poll Alliance with Congress

Srinagar, Jan 14, KNT: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Tuesday ruled out any possibility of forging a pre-poll alliance with the Indian National Congress, asserting that the party would contest the forthcoming Assembly elections independently.

Addressing a press conference at party headquarters Nawai Subah in Srinagar, Additional General Secretary Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal said the cadre of the party was opposed to any alliance with Congress. He said thousands of National Conference leaders and workers were killed during the peak of militancy and maintained that their sentiments could not be disregarded.

Referring to remarks made by then State Congress president Saifuddin Soz suggesting elections be treated as a friendly contest, Kamal claimed it indicated Congress interest in a pre-poll understanding.

“There is no question about it and there is absolutely no possibility of doing it,” Kamal said, adding that the party would fight the ensuing polls single-handedly as it enjoyed a strong base in the state.

He criticized the Congress leadership for raising concerns about possible rigging, saying the alliance between the two parties had been limited to governance and would not extend to electoral arrangements.

On Centre-State relations, Kamal said there was a trust deficit and alleged that recommendations made by interlocutors had not been acted upon. He reiterated the demand for revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from populated areas in a phased manner, stating that the Army’s role was confined to border security.

He also said the Cabinet Sub Committee constituted to examine the creation of new administrative units was functioning normally and seeking suggestions from the public, while accusing the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party of attempting to politicize the issue. [KNT]