Srinagar December 8 (Scoop News) -J&K National Conference has termed as unfortunate, the attempt by the Congress leader and the Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma to link his statement to the statement of Dr. Mustafa Kamal, MLA Hazratbal.
In a statement the Spokesman of the Party said Dr. Mustafa Kamal never made any remark or statement challenging the integrity of the state of Jammu & Kashmir and was admonished publically by the Party President Dr. Farooq Abdullah on 5th December at Hazratbal for making certain remarks about the Congress – National Conference relationship of the past.
The Party President categorically told Dr. Mustafa Kamal in public not to make any statement on the historical perspective of the relationship between the two parties in the larger interest of the smooth functioning of the present coalition government and the welfare of the state.
Statement said the content and the context of the statement of Sham Lal is a matter to be deliberated and discussed by the Congress High Command and the National Conference has refrained from commenting about his controversial speech but linking it with National Conference or its leadership is absolutely un-warranted and uncalled for.
The Spokesman further reiterated that National Conference has always stood for the integrity of the state of Jammu & Kashmir and for equitable development of all regions and sub-regions of the state and its stand on the subject is absolutely clear and there is no change in it whatsoever.
He said that the National Conference – Congress Coalition under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is running very smoothly and working for the welfare and wellbeing of the people of the state and the National Conference leadership has time and again reiterated its gratitude to the UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for the support extended by the Congress High Command in the running of the coalition in the state and the party is committed to the smooth functioning of the coalition in the state. The Spokesman further said that the responsible elements must exercise restraint and not vitiate the atmosphere of goodwill and bonhomie the two parties are enjoying between themselves and must focus on the issues pertaining to the state of Jammu & Kashmir and work together to ensure that the National Conference – Congress’s desire to accomplish the agenda of comprehensive development of the state is realized.
It is mentioned here that in a signed statement issued to the Press Tuesday evening, the Congress Minister Sham lal Sharma said, "myself and many in the Congress Party have been feeling concerned on some leaders of National Conference feeling free to criticize the Congress Party, particularly the Congress high command continuously. The statements of a senior NC leader and MLA Dr Mustafa Kamaal have been appearing in the Press and electronic media for a long time. He has continuously been pouring out venom against the Congress Party and the high command. He has also been rejecting the genuine concerns of Jammu province".
"It is against this background that I made a strong plea for running the coalition smoothly, which can happen only when no room is left for discrimination and the aspirations of all the three regions of the State are respected. In this context, I said that if we do not adhere to this principle then the forces who want UT for Ladakh, separate State for Jammu and autonomous (independence) status for Kashmir will gain momentum in their designs. I urged the Congress rally to be conscious how best their interests can be safeguarded", the Minister maintained.