Srinagar, May 25: National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah Saturday said the results of the election in Srinagar reflect the mood of the people, who notwithstanding various vulnerabilities came out and voted for us, which he said is humbling for the party.
“In spite of the critical situation that most of the valley areas are beset with, people made it a point to cast their vote in favour of NC. I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the people. The faith people placed in our party is humbling and it gives our party the energy to work harder to fulfill people’s aspirations,” Abdullah said while addressing the party functionaries and workers who thronged his residence today to greet him on the party’s win from all the three constituencies of Kashmir province.
“We have a mammoth task ahead of us, on one hand, we have to protect the pluralistic ethos of the state, usher in an era of development and on the other hand we have to fight for the protection of the special status of our state,” the NC spokesman quoted senior Abdullah as saying.
“I along with my other colleagues Muhammad Akbar Lone and Hasnain Masoodi shall work untiringly both inside and outside parliament for safeguarding Article 370 and Article 35-A. The impressive victory would not have been possible but for the proactive role played by the workers. Now that people have done their bit, it is for us to rise up to the expectations of people and deliver on the undertakings that we made during the run-up to the elections. I assure people that the party will leave no stone unturned to defend and protect the special position of the state at any cost,” he said.
“The biggest battle is ahead, the party rank and file, the workers have to maintain the momentum and ensure a strong mandate for the party in the upcoming assembly elections,” he said, adding “we will deliver on the promise of giving regional autonomy to all the regions and sub-regions of the state.
“Once in power, the party shall immediately start decentralization of powers to different remote areas of the state. We will put in all efforts for the equitable development of the state. With Omar Abdullah in the vanguard of the new government, the party will materialize the ideals of Naya Kashmir,” he said.
