Srinagar, Jan 24: Former Congress leader Abdul Gani Vakil joined People’s Conference led by Sajad Gani Lone here Thursday.
Vakil, who was a minister in the Ghulam Nabi Azad-led PDP-Congress coalition government, joined the People’s Conference at Lone’s residence here.
Vakil, who has unsuccessfully contested Assembly elections from Rafiabad constituency of Baramulla district several times including in 2014, had resigned from Congress in 2015.
Welcoming Vakil, into the party fold, PC chairman hoped that being an experienced politician, he will play pivotal role in the party politics.
“I welcome Abdul Gani Vakil into PC, he is an experienced and mass-based politician. He belongs to ground and joined politics after struggle without any promoter. He is an inspiration for all of us and if God wishes he will play a big role in this ‘caravan of change’,” Lone added.
Addressing media on the occasion, Vakil asserted that he joined PC to wipeout the roots of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and National Conference (NC) from Jammu and Kashmir.
“These two parties including PDP and NC made 42 amendments in Article 370; it’s they who actually harmed the special status of the state. Since I was the minister, I am witness to this fact,” said Vakil.
The former Congress leader while referring to NC founder, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah said his reason to join Congress was failure of the then leadership which not only deviated from their commitments but stuck on to chief minister’s chair even after facing humiliation.
“My only reason to join Congress some 43 years back was failure of Sheikh Abdullah, who deviated from his stand. He was humiliated but he continued as CM,”added Vakil.
Praising the PC leadership for having “clean image”, he said “I joined the team of young men who are clean and want to end corruption from the state. Before joining PC, I inquired if there was any case of corruption pending against them — like there are against the leaders of other parties.”
Vakil also said NC, in order to save Mehbooba (PDP president), “enacted a drama” to form alliance in Jammu and Kashmir after the fall of PDP-BJP government.
“These two share tacit understanding. They have secret pact in terms of power sharing and corruption,” Vakil alleged.
