Sanjay Pandita
Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 22: Tensions between the ruling National Conference (NC) and its ally-turned-opposition Congress escalated further after a sharp exchange of statements between leaders of the two parties.
On Sunday, AICC general secretary and J&K incharge Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain criticized the NC leadership, saying that elected representatives cannot abdicate their responsibilities by claiming that “nothing is in their hands.”
Responding a day later, senior NC leader and former minister Ajay Sadhotra launched a strong counterattack, defending the Omar Abdullah-led government.
“The role of the Omar-led government is transparent, accountable, and people-centric. Congress should not see through a myopic prism but adopt a holistic view,” Sadhotra said. He added that while constructive criticism was welcome, misrepresentation of facts “cannot go unchallenged.”
Reiterating NC’s commitment, Sadhotra said, “The people of Jammu and Kashmir know who stood with them in their darkest hours. National Conference has never betrayed their trust and never will. Our larger goal remains the restoration of democracy, rights, and dignity to the people.”
Earlier, Hussain had expressed disapproval of remarks by some NC ministers, arguing that such statements discouraged the electorate. Without naming Chief Minister Omar Abdullah directly, he referred to Abdullah’s recent comment that the restoration of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was “not in his hands.”
“When people elect us, they expect us to raise their issues and fight for justice. If we say nothing is in our control, people lose faith in us,” Hussain said. He emphasized that elected representatives must work with full commitment to secure compensation for those affected by floods and highway closures.
The war of words has further widened the divide between the two parties, underscoring their strained ties in Jammu and Kashmir politics. |
