Srinagar: National Conference MLA Hilal Akbar Lone on Sunday dismissed speculation of a rebellion within the party, asserting that no force, temptation, or desire for a position could shake his loyalty to the party and its leadership.
His remarks come amid speculation of discontent within the ruling NC following Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s expansion of the Council of Ministers on October 27.
Lone, who was among the MLAs who attended the gathering at a colleague’s residence a day after the cabinet expansion, said his presence there was not intended to signal any dissent or disloyalty towards the party or its leadership.
“It is unfortunate that some people have tried to give a different colour and meaning to the gathering at one of our colleague’s residences the other day. I had not gone there with the intention to ditch my leader or my party.
“The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference has breathed political life into us. We are what we are because of the National Conference, and our fidelity to the party goes far beyond posts and positions,” the Sonawari MLA said in a post on X.
The party had earlier dismissed reports of a rebellion, with NC provincial secretary (Kashmir) Showkat Mir describing Friday’s gathering of MLAs as a cordial get-together ahead of the Darbar Move, a practice under which the government functions six months each in Jammu during winter and in Srinagar during summer.
Lone said his father, Mohd Akbar Lone, a former MP and minister, had devoted his life to the party, which, in turn, had supported him in every possible way to help him realise his political aspirations.
“Moreover, when I was chosen as the candidate from Sonawari, (Chief Minister) Omar Abdullah himself announced my name. Neither my father nor I lobbied with anyone to secure the party mandate. I owe everything to my party and my leader, and my loyalty to them is strengthened by the trust and support of the party and the people,” he said.
The legislator asserted that like his father, he remained steadfastly loyal to the party and its leader Omar Abdullah.
“No force, temptation, greed for power or desire for a position can shake my loyalty to the party and its leadership,” he said.
However, he said if the legislators have any concerns, they will place them before the chief minister once he returns from Delhi.
“He is our leader, and nobody can stop us from bringing to his notice whatever we genuinely feel needs to be brought to his attention,” he said.
“Let us put an end to this discussion and instead start discussing how we can work together to improve the lives of our people. That is what should matter to all of us,” he added.
Lone also accused those giving a different interpretation to the gathering of attempting to create unnecessary confusion, either at the behest of the opposition or due to vested interests.
“J&K National Conference is J&K. To weaken the National Conference would be to weaken the very fabric of Jammu and Kashmir, and we will never let that happen,” he asserted.
