Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 9: Former Union Minister and Pradesh Congress Committee president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz today said that interests of the Congress party would be the top priority before any pre-poll alliance in the State.
Talking to media-persons at function organised to felicitated him ( Soz) by the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, here this afternoon, the PCC president said that the decision regarding any pre poll alliance will finally be taken by the party high command. However, the interest of the Congress Party would be protected at all costs. Besides this, the aspirations and wishes of the Congress Party workers in the State will also be taken care of and given preference.
When asked about the stand of Congress Party on 73rd amendment, Prof Soz said Congress Party has already cleared its stand over the issue. There may be some compulsions in the coalition but Congress would continue to strive for the 73rd Amendment even being coalition partner. The party agenda on 73rd Amendment is very clear, Prof Soz added.
Earlier, Prof Soz was felicitated by the members of Chamber of Commerce and Industry led by its president Y V Sharma. All other office bearers including senior vice president Sham Lal Langar secretary general, Arun Gupa besides president Federation of Industries (FOI) Annil Suri, representatives from Gangyal, Bari Brahmana and Samba Industries bodies were also present.
The speakers extended gratitude to the AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and PCC president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz for providing some relief to the industrialists of Jammu by way of granting exemption in Excise duty. They also projected other issues of the members from trade and industry which included IT exemption. Prof Soz while extending gratitude assured all possible help especially in resolving issues of traders and industrialists, refugees, border people, Gujjars and others.