The three-time chief minister also reiterated the party’s commitment to the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and Articles 370 and 35-A, saying the matter would be pursued in the Supreme Court.
NC MLA Gurez, Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurezi), said there was no breakaway group and that the legislators had received assurances from the party leadership.
On the outcome of Friday’s meeting, he said: “There were certain issues which we brought before the Chief Minister (Omar Abdullah) Sahab and Farooq (Abdullah) Sahab.
Their first closed-door meeting was held at the Humhama residence of MLA LolabQaysarJamshaid Lone, in which 17 NC legislators and an independent MLA from Thanamandi had reportedly pledged collective solidarity.
AdvertismentThe subsequent meetings were held at the TulsiBagh residence of MLA GurezNazir Ahmad Khan (Gurezi) and the Haiderpora residence of MLA GulmargPirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah.
Advertisment
In his post-meeting interaction with reporters, Farooq Abdullah said: “We have spoken to them. Their problems were genuine, and we heard them properly. We will take some steps quickly and some steps slowly.”
However, he rejected reports of a split, describing them as baseless, and said the NC had remained united and would not be broken.
The three-time chief minister also reiterated the party’s commitment to the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and Articles 370 and 35-A, saying the matter would be pursued in the Supreme Court.
Advertisment
The meeting, in which around 15 to 16 legislators participated, was held against the backdrop of growing internal discontent within the party following the October 27 cabinet expansion.
NC MLA Gurez, Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurezi), said there was no breakaway group and that the legislators had received assurances from the party leadership.
The legislators have authorisedGurezi to speak to the media on behalf of the group.
Advertisment
Gurezi rejected suggestions that the legislators were attempting to establish a separate faction or political formation.
“We are legislators of the National Conference. Whenever we have issues, we take them to our party leadership,” he said.
Gurezi said that certain sections on social media had portrayed their earlier meetings as the emergence of a separate party, which was not the case.
On the outcome of Friday’s meeting, he said: “There were certain issues which we brought before the Chief Minister (Omar Abdullah) Sahab and Farooq (Abdullah) Sahab. They have assured us that whether these are political issues or other matters, some will be addressed immediately while others will be resolved gradually.”
The disgruntled NC legislators’ consultations began following the October 27 cabinet expansion.
Their first closed-door meeting was held at the Humhama residence of MLA LolabQaysarJamshaid Lone, in which 17 NC legislators and an independent MLA from Thanamandi had reportedly pledged collective solidarity.
Advertisment
The subsequent meetings were held at the TulsiBagh residence of MLA GurezNazir Ahmad Khan (Gurezi) and the Haiderpora residence of MLA GulmargPirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah.
The November 5 meeting at HasnainMasoodi’sSanat Nagar residence was their fourth meeting since the cabinet expansion in which 20 legislators participated, 16 physically and four virtually.
The disgruntled group had prepared a charter of demands covering governance, ministerial accountability, and organisational restructuring.
Among the reported demands were greater efforts towards restoration of statehood and special status for Jammu and Kashmir; implementation of the Dachigam resolution concerning cabinet restructuring and ministerial accountability; changes in the Chief Minister’s inner circle; a consultative advisory group of two to three legislators to brief the Chief Minister regularly on governance and development; a high-powered disciplinary committee and an inquiry panel to address party grievances; strengthening the party’s media and communications machinery; regular meetings of the NC Working Committee; and establishment of an election cell and comprehensive organisational restructuring.
