Srinagar, Jan 06: Former MLA Gulmarg, Mohammad Abbas Wani joined Peoples Conference here Sunday.
Flanked by Peoples Conference (PC) chairman SajadGani Lone and senior leader Moulvi Imran Raza Ansari, Wani announced his decision to join the party at a press conference here today.
Welcoming him into the PC fold, Ansari said that despite having been described a “giant killer” after he defeated and replaced a very powerful legislator and former minister to make it to the Assembly, Wani was given a raw deal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Lone also seconded Ansari, saying that he was personally witness to whatever Wani faced at the hands of his PDP colleagues.
He also said that Wani was there with him and Ansari and their “caravan of change” from the day-one, and today he has formally joined the party.
Wani himself narrated several incidents and instances to drive home how he was not treated well by PDP. He also accused the party of having sidelined him vis-à-vis important decisions concerning his constituency.
He talked of how Tangmarg-Poonch road project, whose foundation stone was laid by then chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed himself was conveniently neglected by the government after Mufti’s demise.
“When I brought up this matter in the Assembly, then Works Minister NaeemAkhtar told me that the project will be taken up in the year 2022 if funds are available by that time,” Wani revealed.
He also talked of how Akhtar as Education minister sidelined him in the matter concerning the girls’ hostel for Degree College and Higher Secondary School Tangmarg.
“On countless occasions I asked for a portion of money from Corporate Social Responsibility component of the Gulmarg Gondola (Cable Car Corporation) for investment in the constituency. I even raised it in assembly that people of my constituency have a legitimate right on Gulmarg Gondola’s CSR funds and even sought a portion of donations at Baba Reshi Shrine be invested in the area for developing educational and heath infrastructure, but nobody heeded me,” Wani said.
Speaking to the media, Sajad Lone said that PC was ready for Assembly elections whenever these are held and reiterated that the party will have no pre-poll alliance and will field candidates at all 87 assembly segments.
Wani had earlier resigned from PDP.
Pertinently, the Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP has been facing a rebellion since BJP withdrew support to the party in Jammu and Kashmir in June last year.
A section of PDP leaders have revolted against Mehbooba Mufti’s leadership, accusing her of nepotism and favouritism.
Wani was among the first few legislators who openly rebelled against the PDP chief. He was there with the influential Shia leader Imran Ansari and his uncle Abid Ansari, when they raised the baton of revolt. MLCs YasirReshi and SaifuddinBhat had also revolted. Former MLA BaramullaJavaidBeigh and Abdul MajeedPadder of Noorabad constituency also revolted by subsequently they went back to the party.
Several other leaders have since left the party with former Finance minister HaseebDrabu, former Law minister BasharatBukhari and Peer Mohammad Hussain being the notable ones.
Bukhari and Hussain joined PDP’s arch rival National Conference.
Yesterday also former minister Javed Mustafa Mir, who represented the Chadoora Assembly constituency in central Kashmir’s Budgam district for three successive terms from 2002, parted ways with PDP.
“I have resigned from the PDP. It is my personal decision and I will not speak anything more on this at this moment,” Mir said on Saturday.
Other middle and lower-rung leaders have also deserted the party, months before the Assembly polls are due in Jammu and Kashmir.
