Srinagar, Oct 16: National Conference (NC) President and Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said NC is the only party that can restore dignity as well as protect the identity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The party president said this while addressing a gathering of party delegates here at Nawa-e-Subha, Srinagar.
The event marked the conclusion of the fourth phase of organizational elections in which party's senior leader and former minister Nasir Aslam Wani was re-elected as Provincial President (Kashmir) unopposed for the second consecutive term.
He has been holding the office since 2013.
On the occasion, his name for the post was proposed by senior leaders Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Mubarak Gul, Dr Bashir Veeri, Peer Afaq and seconded by all district, provincial functionaries and delegates present on the occasion.
The entire election exercise was officiated by Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan and Ali Muhammad Dar. Later party functionaries felicitated the Provincial President elect Nasir Aslam Wani for his resounding and unopposed win.
Felicitating Nasir on his new stint as Provincial President, Dr Farooq said holding the party flag high is a daunting task and that NC's history is rife with such numerous men who held the party flag high facing many challenges.
He said that it was due to the efforts of numerous NC workers that the struggle which was launched in 1931 culminated in the restoration of democracy in JK.
NC, he added, on account of its struggle for the protection of identity and historical individuality of the people of JK, has been immortalized in the hearts and minds of people of Jammu and Kashmir.
NC, as a natural, legitimate and powerful voice, Dr Farooq added, espouses the efforts and sacrifice of various workers, some celebrated and others whose names, despite being worthy of all the glory that there is, remain anonymous to the masses today.
“Since stepping into the shoes of his predecessors, Nasir has diligently guarded the party heirloom which it has inherited from Sher-e-Kashmir. I pass on my good wishes to him on his astounding victory. Elections reveal how favored a candidate is within masses and the ongoing organizational elections have made selection of widely favored candidates for the organization posts, leaving no room for prejudice,” he said.
He said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have always withstood all malicious attempts to engineer the breaking of their unified voice in the shape of NC.
“Regardless of intimidation, coercion and incessant contriving by anti-Jammu & Kashmir forces, the trust of people in it has been rising. From time-to-time people of JK have asserted their authority, ownership of JK by bringing NC to power. For us power is not the ultimate goal, it is a medium to serve our people,” he added.
Expressing gratitude to the party delegates, in-charges, District, Zonal presidents, YNC, Women's wing functionaries Nasir Aslam Wani said that NC's struggle for restoration of J&K people's rights forms formidable chapter in the history of Jammu and Kashmir that requires no corroboration and that it speaks for itself.
He vowed to rise up to the expectation of the party members from Halqa to province level and give his best to the party, which he defined as the progressive soul of Jammu and Kashmir.
On the occasion, Party's General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, senior leaders Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Sakina Itoo, Mir Saifullah, Mubarak Gul, Muhammad Syed Akhoon, Shameema Firdous, Aga Syed Mehmood and Peer Afaq Ahmed also addressed the gathering and felicitated Nasir Aslam Wani on his resounding and unopposed win.
In a separate function in Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan, Jammu Rattan Lal Gupta was elected to the post of Provincial President Jammu province unopposed. The entire election exercise was officiated by Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal and Anil Dhar. His name was proposed by Syed Mushtaq Bukhari and seconded by Ajay Sadhotra. Among others Party's Senior provincial, district and block functionaries of Jammu province, YNC Provincial President Ajaz Jan, functionaries were present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, Party president and Vice President have passed on good wishes to Nasir Aslam Wani and Rattan Lal Gupta on their unopposed election for the post of provincial president Kashmir and Jammu respectively and hoped that the party will benefit from their experience.
