NC hails Omar’s decision to step down; Says political uncertainty detrimental to public interest

STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Urging the Centre to engage Pakistan in meaningful dialogue for ending ceasefire violations on International Border, National Conference on Friday sought a viable package to ensure safe shelters for border dwellers and proactive distribution of relief to flood victims.
“Ceasefire violations and intermittent firing have caused enormous difficulties to hapless people living along the borders, which at times have taken dangerous proportions in terms of loss of life”, National Conference Provincial Committee said in a resolution adopted at a meeting at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan on Friday.
The meeting, held to review the party performance during just concluded Assembly elections, was chaired by Provincial President Devender Singh Rana and attended by the senior party functionaries. The Provincial Committee got engaged in a brain-storming session to analyse the losses it suffered during elections. The contesting candidates and senior functionaries gave ground assessment, saying the cadre is committed to bounce back while taking the defeat to their stride.
“There is immense need to synergise the working at ground zero and focus on the policies and programmes of National Conference, which envisage socio-political empowerment and economic emancipation of the people living in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh”, Provincial President Devender Singh Rana said, adding that the state had to flourish as a single entity. Any attempt to weaken the bonds between the three regions would meet stiff resistance by National Conference, which represents the collective ethos of the State.
He stressed the need for revisiting the glorious ethos of the party and working towards further cementing the bonds of unity, brotherhood and amity among the people.
Echoing sentiments of the workers, the Provincial President hailed the decision of Working President Omar Abdullah to step down as the Caretaker Chief Minister, saying when the caretaker government could no way help the people especially the suffering border dwellers and flood-victims, it was useless to stay back without any mandate.
“The party feels very strongly that PDP must respect the mandate and forming the government, particularly when it has the members with the unconditional support of National Conference”, Rana said, adding that political machinations and escapism have added to the problems of common masses across the State. Such a complacent inertia was also against the spirit of democratic ethos; he said and hoped that the state will come out of the prevailing uncertainty. “Once bestowed the responsibility, the PDP cannot continue to play to galleries”, he said, adding that National Conference is concerned over the prolonged stalemate in the government formation.
Expressing concern over continued delay in the package for flood-hit people, the Provincial President said the enormous miseries being faced by the affected families during the ongoing acute winter conditions is painful.
“The Chief Minister endeavoured to seek some sort of respite for them but for the apathetic approach adopted by the Centre”, he maintained.
Earlier, National Conference, in a resolution, expressed full confidence in the leadership of the President Dr Farooq Abdullah and Working President Omar Abdullah. It stated, “Respecting verdict, National Conference assures that it will overcome the shortcomings, if any, and meet the expectations of the people who have reposed their faith in its policies and programmes, even during the most testing times.
The resolution expressed solidarity with valiant border people and sympathy to the family of the woman killed in the firing and stated that National Conference stands by the affected families, as ever before. It urged the party functionaries at the grass-roots level to remain at the service of the border people and help them overcome the difficult phase they were undergoing.