Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah on Tuesday exhorted party functionaries to work in tandem towards making the party stronger at the grassroots level in order to take on the imminent challenges to the people of J&K.
This he, according to the NC spokesperson, said while addressing a delegation of workers and functionaries from Kupwara here at the party headquarters Nawa-e-Subha, Srinagar. The visiting delegation comprised the party’s district, block and DDC members. The delegation was led by District Vice President Kupwara Muhammad Ramzan. Among others Additional General Secretary Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, MP Muhammad Akbar Lone, Party’s Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq, and Deputy Political secretary to VP Mudassar Shahmiri were also present on the occasion.
During the breadth of the meeting, the visiting delegation members gave their feedback and shared their views about the prevailing political scenario in the district with the Vice President. They also apprised the Vice President about the ongoing political activities of the party in the district.
The visiting functionaries and workers raised issues of public importance on the occasion. They also aired the woes of educated and skilled youth in the district and said how administrative apathy has unleashed widespread unemployment in the North Kashmir districts particularly Kupwara and pushed people towards poverty during the last two and a half years. The interaction was also marked by threadbare discussion on party affairs in the district and future course of action of the party in the changed political landscape of the region.
Interacting with the party functionaries, Omar said political parties cannot rely on their opinions in policy framing at any level in the party. “The top down modus operandi in policy framing has no place in NC and for that matter in any democratic setup. Our workers are our eyes and ears. For NC to deepen its roots ever more than before, it is imperative for our zonal, district functionaries to value workers. He added that strengthening of the bottom-up model holds the key towards making the party stronger to take on the challenges in the future,” he said.
“JKNC is waging a self-less battle against the wanton discrimination and injustice. Hence it becomes all more important for our workers, functionaries and office bearers to work with a sense of belongingness. Our ground workers have a greater role to develop a clear understanding of the party’s policies, priorities and perspective at multiple fronts in wake of the big challenges that have surfaced post 2019 decisions. We have to intensify our mass outreach to people,” he added.
Today’s challenges, Omar said, go beyond development. “We are struggling for the restoration of our infringed democratic and constitutional rights. There can be no trade-off between development and our honour. Both have to go hand in hand. Kupwara has historically been a fortress of NC. Leaders, functionaries and workers from Kupwara have contributed immensely to realise the vision and mission of Sher-e-Kashmir. The need of the hour calls for strengthening our base in this frontier district,” he said.
Extolling the workers, Omar asked them to continue to shoulder people’s worries. He assured them that the party leadership will raise the issues concerning people, particularly unemployed youth, aggrieved farmers, tribals, and other backward classes at all forums.
Party functionaries including General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani, Shameema Firdous, Ali Muhammad Dar, Imran Nabi Dar, Showkat Mir, Peer Afaq Ahmed, Ghulam Mohi Ud Din Mir, Ahsan Pardesi, Syed Tauqeer, Salman Ali Sagar, Shabir Kullay, Er. Sabiya Qadri also met Omar Abdullah.
Later, a delegation of selected FAA aspirants met Omar Abdullah at Nawa e Subah and apprised him of the issues regarding the examination and the subesquent selection list. He gave them a patient hearing and assured the delegation that the party will raise their genuine demands in all forums.
