Excelsior Correspondent
REASI, Sept 9: Saying that Jammu and Kashmir is entering into a crucial year of elections to Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly, Provincial President National Conference Devender Singh Rana today observed that people will have to consciously choose between time tested secular and democratic forces and those believing in division and disruption.
“National Conference has pioneered democracy and strengthened the bonds of amity and brotherhood during most testing times in the State”, Mr Rana said while addressing a huge public meeting at Muttal in Reasi Constituency this afternoon.
He said that National Conference is all set to register a new record during the elections scheduled next year.
The occasion was marked by the joining of Sarpanch Muttal Makhan Lal into National Conference along with his colleague Sarpanchs and Panchs including Sanjet Singh Sarpanch Dhanu; Rajinder Singh Sarpanch Sundrani; Ram Lal Sarpanch Seer Brahmana; Kaka Singh Niab Sarpanch; Mohan Lal Panch; Capt Hans Raj, Mani Ram Panch and their supporters.
Mr Rana said that National Conference stands tall at the strength of its principled and healthy politics, spirit of sacrifice and selfless service to the people. “We have never compromised on our principles”, he said while reminding the people how National Conference preferred to sit in opposition in 2002 despite being the single largest party with 28 members. He said his party does not believe in power being the end destination of politics but it treats power as an instrument to serve the people. “The past over four and half years have proved the commitment of the party under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to serve the people of all the three regions and their sub region”, he said, adding that it has always eschewed the tendencies of populism that has remained the fort of power hungry parties in the State.
He said that National Conference has been a mass movement, presence of which has been, is and will remain in nook and corner of the State. “The joining of sagacious political workers into the party fold only reflects their immense faith in the policies and programmes of National Conference”, he maintained.
Giving an overview of the revolutionary measures taken during Omar Abdullah led Government; Mr Rana said that Right to Information and Public Services Guarantee Act speak about the vision of the Chief Minister in empowering people at grass roots. “By virtue of these measures, the Chief Minister has given the people right to question”, he said.
While urging the party workers to gird up their loins for the elections, the Provincial President said that National Conference will be going to the people with the report card of the current tenure of the Chief Minister and the overall contribution of National Conference in championing the just cause of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. “It is incumbent upon the party workers to redouble their mass contact campaign and carry forward the policies and programmes to every nook of the State.
Those who were present on the occasion included District President Reasi and former Minister Babu Jagjeevan Lal, ex Legislators Brij Mohan Sharma, Th Kashmir Singh, besides several senior party leaders.
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