NC symbol of J&K’s unity: Dr Farooq.

Jammu, Apr 07 : National Conference (NC) President and Member of the Parliament from Srinagar Dr Farooq Abdullah on Friday said that NC represents the enduring multi-cultural ethos and pluralism of Jammu and Kashmir.

This the Party President said at Jammu while welcoming scores of new entrants from different walks of life into the party fold. Dr Farooq Abdullah, who was attending the Lok Sabha reached Jammu earlier today after the commencement of the budget session.

Those who joined JKNC include noted socio-political personality Syed Mumtaz Shah Bukhari of Surankote, Retd medical superintendent Dr. Ranbir Singh, Retd Deputy Director Dr DB Singh, Retd Zonal Education planning officer Chander Mohan Singh, Ex Sarpanch Karam Chand, Retd Police Cop Sanjeev Singh, Mool Raj Sharma, Miss Sunita Devi, Romesh Chander, Wasim Akram, Habib Choudhary, Shalu Sharma, Mamta Mehra. JKNC Provincial President Jammu Rattan Lal Gupta, YNC Provincial President Ajaz Jan, Addl Spokesperson Th. Yashuvsrdhan Singh, Mumtaz Bajad, Laly Khan, Reyaz Ahmed DDC, Shadi Khan, Irfan Qureshi, others were also present on the occasion.

While welcoming the new entrants into the party fold, Dr Farooq, as per a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that the doors of the party are open for those who want to strengthen the idea of pluralistic, democratic, progressive and United Jammu and Kashmir. The Party, he stated takes pride in giving platform to all those individuals who want to do their bit to build bridges between different communities, regions and sections of the society,” he said adding, “NC strategy and vision in politics is etched with the welfare of people and protecting the political, social and cultural interests of the diverse sections of J&K’s society from all regions and religions.”

He exhorted the new entrants on the occasion to shoulder the worries of people by airing them at all the appropriate levels. Addressing the party functionaries, Dr Farooq said, “Perception of public’s voice in administration and government has decreased due to the backsliding of democratic, governance deficit and administrative inertia. The hard earned gains of NC during its successive governments in terms of bridging building people’s trust in government has received a setback. The anti-poor, anti-trader and anti-consumer policies being pursued by the incumbent administration have further increased the wedge between the administration and people. Our people don’t know whom to turn to for help. Here our party functionaries have an important role to play in terms of giving voice to issues faced by our people. Our workers and functionaries have to knock on every door. There is no substitute to hard work, lots of leg work and sheer degree of optimism and determination,” he said.

Welcoming the new entrants Dr Farooq said that the party will benefit from their experience in different fields. The new entrants wowed to make the party stronger on ground in their respective areas.

Addressing the functionaries YNC Provincial President Jammu and Former MLA Poonch said, “National Conference has a very civilized and disciplined internal system of democracy ever since the time of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and we continue to maintain a level of decency and morality in our politics. I hope the new entrants will etch themselves with the life and struggle of Sheikh sahab, and Madre Meharban.”

Additional spokesperson Jammu Th. Yashu Vardhan Singh speaking on the occasion said, “The entire state machinery is focusing on window-dressing and not much heed is given on addressing the issue. Given the pace of recruitment in the government sector, absence of incentives for entrepreneurship and failure of the government sector to support local industries, handicraft and tourism sectors, there seems no end to the miseries of our young lot,” he said adding that other segments of the society are equally tormented on different accounts and are looking up towards NC to rescue them from the quagmire the entire region finds itself in—(KNO)