National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah Saturday said that elections results in Srinagar “reflect the mood of the people, who despite various vulnerabilities came out and voted for the party.”
“In spite of the critical situation that most of the valleyareas are beset with, people made it a point to cast their vote in favour ofNC. I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the people.
The party president was addressing scores of NCfunctionaries and workers who thronged his residence on Saturday to greet himon party’s spectacular win from all the three constituencies of Kashmirprovince, an NC handout said.
He said the party has been humbled by the “faith” thatpeople have placed in it. “And, it gives our party the energy to work harder tofulfil people’s aspirations.”
Abdullah said, “We have a mammoth task ahead of us. On onehand we have to protect the pluralistic ethos of the state, usher in an era ofdevelopment and on the other, we have to fight for the protection of thespecial status of our state.”
He said, “I along with my colleagues Muhammad Akbar Lone andHasnain Masoodi shall work untiringly both inside and outside the Parliamentfor safeguarding Art 370, Art 35-A.”
He said the impressive victory would not have been possiblebut for the proactive role played by the workers. “Now that people have donetheir bit it is now for us to rise up to the expectations of people and deliveron the undertakings that we made during the run up for the elections.
“I assure people that the party will leave no stone unturnedto defend and protect the special position of the state at any cost.”
Party president while exuding confidence in workers, partyfunctionaries said, “The biggest battle is ahead; the party rank and file, theworkers have to maintain the momentum and ensure a strong mandate for the partyin the upcoming assembly elections. Moreover we will deliver on the promise ofgiving regional autonomies to all the regions and sub regions of the state.
“Once in power the party shall immediately start thedecentralization of powers to different remote areas of the state. We will putin all efforts for equitable development of the state. With Omar Abdullah invanguard of the new government the party will materialize the ideals of NayaKashmir.
“We will take due care of all the minorities. As far asvictory is concerned, it does not belong to an individual it belongs to theparty. I take this opportunity to thank the people and workers in the Jammu andLadakh division for abiding by the party directions. I congratulate each andevery worker of the party in the far flung areas of the state for reposingtheir fate in the party. I assure all the people that party will undertake thedevelopment in all the remote areas on priority basis.”
Maintaining that their agenda of development is progressiveand inclusive, he said: “I assure everyone that once in power . . . the newgovernment will take no time to give regional and sub regional autonomies tothe far flung areas of the state. Peoplehave done their bit now it is for us to deliver on the promises the party hasmade in the run up for elections,” he added.
Among others party general secretary Haji Ali MuhammadSagar, Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Nasir Aslam Wani, Ali Muhammad Dar, MubarakGul, Shameema Firdous, Mushtaq Guroo, Sajad kitchloo, GN Ratanpuri, Javaid Dar,Muhammad Syed Akhoon, Dr Sajad Uri, Sheikh Ghulam Qadir Pardesi, Shammi Oberoi,Showkat Mir, Ajaz Jan, Salman Ali Sagar, Ahsan Pardesi, Younis Gul, BrijmohanSharma, Er. Sabiya Qadri, G N Tailbali, Khalid Rathore, Sardar Jagjeet SinghAzad, Imran Pandit also greeted the party president on the occasion.
Meanwhile scores of district presidents block presidents andother functionaries greeted party president for his impressive victory.
On the occasion Abdullah was presented with certificatedeclaring him as successful candidate received on his behalf by chief electionagent of the party president Showkat Ahmad Mir from returning officer – 2Srinagar PC.