Jammu, Feb 6: District Secretary of PDP Muhammad Amin, who is also Naib Sarpanch of Panchayat Khanpur of Nagrota assembly constituency alongwith scores of supporters joined JK National Conference on Monday, a NC spokesman said.
 He said Naib Sarpanch and Panchs from Bajalta and a prominent Janta Dal leader from Panchayat Panjgrian also joined the party.
 Provincial President JK National Conference, Jammu province Rattan Lal Gupta welcomed the new entrants into the party fold and said that the doors of the party are always open for all those who believe in the programme and polices of the National Conference and have faith in its leadership.
 Rattan Lal Gupta said the PDP is “frustrated on seeing the path breaking initiatives” taken by the Omar led government and remarkable achievements registered during the last three years on both political and development fronts which has changed the discourse in the state.
 “They (PDP) even tried their best to stop the holding of elections by circulating fear psychosis and launching false propaganda, but literally failed”, Gupta said adding that PDP is at present indulging in same type of tactics to derail the functioning of viable Panchayat Raj in the state, but the people have seen through their designs and will not allow PDP to succeed.
 Gupta said that various powers have already been transferred to Panchayats and the Chief Minister recently granted rupees One lakh each to each Panchayat for undertaking development works.
 He called upon the Sarpanchs and Panchs to work together and strengthen the Panchayati Raj in the state.
 Muhammad Amin and his supporters while joining the party said that they were fed up by the “propagandist approach” of PDP hampering the development process and putting hurdles in the establishment of powerful Panchayat Raj in the State.
 Reposing full faith in the coalition government headed by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah and the leadership of National Conference, they said that the track record of National Conference itself vindicates its commitment to the public empowerment and nurturing of democratic institutions. They said that the credit for holding of Panchayat elections in the State goes to Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah.
 “People have elected us to address their problems and not for creating new ones for political grounds”, they said adding that this is the main cause of for their joining National Conference and becoming part of the development and not part of the problem by sticking in a political party which is aimless.
 Those who joined the party on the occasion in presence of Provincial President, Rattan Lal Gupta included Ramesh Sharma Niab Sarpanch Bajalta, Mir Alam, Panch Ward No. 2 Bajalta, Ranu Devi Panch Ward No. 4 Bajalta, Abdul Hameed, Panch Ward No. 3 Bajalta Om Parkash from Janta Dal and their supporters.
PDP REFUTES NC’S CLAIMS
 Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) refuted claims of ruling National Conference that a so-called District Secretary of PDP has resigned by the party to join NC.
 In a statement a PDP spokesman termed NC’s claims as totally “false and fabricated.” “ “There is no person namely Muhammad Amin, as District Secretary of the PDP.”
 The  PDP spokesman said that party workers are united under the leadership of Mufti Muhammad Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 6 Feb 2012 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 6 Feb 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 7 Feb 2012 00:00:00 IST