SRINAGAR, May 6: PDP leader Waheed Para on Wednesday said the NationalConference outcry over the Rajya Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir last year was “counterproductive” and a ploy to “divert attention” from substantive issues like attachment of the Sirajul Uloom school under the UAPA.
The National Conference (NC) has accused the PDP of helping the BJP in the Rajya Sabha polls.
The NC had won three seats in the polls while the BJP had got one. The loss of one seat was blamed on cross-voting.
“The National Conference’s outcry over the Rajya Sabha vote is misplaced. This is not fundamentally about the Rajya Sabha – it serves as a diversion from substantive concerns, notably the Siraj-ul-Aloom controversy and the erasure of Urdu from official records,” Para said in a post on X.
The Darul Uloom Jamia Sirajul Uloom at Imam Sahib in Shopian was last month declared an unlawful entity under the UAPA.
The administration had said the school allegedly run by individuals affiliated with a banned organisation in Shopian district has been declared an “unlawful entity” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The PDP MP also accused the National Conference or disintegrating the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, an amalgam formed for restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
“The National Conference disintegrated the PAGD. It further strained electoral unity by ensuring that the PDP was excluded from the INDIA alliance arrangement during the J-K Assembly elections,” he said.
Para said against this backdrop, it is clear that the PDP did not owe cooperation to the NC in the Rajya Sabha elections to four seats of Jammu and Kashmir last year.
“Yet, we extended unconditional support, even while being aware of internal dissent within the National Conference. Hence blaming the PDP for the Rajya Sabha outcome is both inaccurate and counterproductive. The failure, Omar Sahab must realise, lies close to Nawai Subh,” he added.
The MLA from Pulwama said by making these accusations, the NC has responded adversely to the “magnanimity” of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti.
“She neither abstained – an act that could have indirectly aided the BJP- nor imposed conditions. Her only suggestion was to secure the third Rajya Sabha seat and avoid turning the uncertain fourth seat, declined by Congress, into a blame game,” he said.
Para said it was the responsibility of the National Conference to appoint an agent for the three votes of PDP.
“If their reason for crying foul against the PDP is that the PDP didn’t appoint an agent for its three votes, then may I ask the esteemed CM that what would make him magically trust the PDP-appointed agent if he is not willing to trust the PDP members who voted?” he asked.
The opposition leader said during the Vice Presidential elections, ruling party Lok Sabha member from Srinagar Aga Ruhullah stated that the National Conference did not clearly communicate its position to its MPs.
“Does that mean that the NC is hand and glove with the BJP?
“In targeting the PDP, the National Conference has not weakened a rival but has instead undermined the trust extended to it in good faith,” he said.
Para said there is a deeper problem as well.
“Some voices, like the NC’s Kulgam spokesperson, had previously sought to join the PDP after being denied mandate but was denied entry because strategic considerations. Many seniors from the NC continue to meet our party leadership, and she (Mufti) is the one who does not encourage this, believing that any instability is instability for all,” he said.
The MLA said targeting the PDP risks playing directly into a broader BJP agenda to fracture electoral unity in J-K.
“If the NC were to implode tomorrow and @OmarAbdullah finds himself needing the support of PDP’s four MLAs to stay afloat, he will face an awkward moment – having to turn to the very legislators and @MehboobaMufti whom he hasn’t stopped bad mouthing ever since he assumed Office,” he said.
Para advised the chief minister to focus on governance rather than dwell on one lost Rajya Sabha seat.
“Omar Sahab, I wish you stability and strength at this critical juncture. Rather than dwelling on the one lost Rajya Sabha seat and attributing blame to the PDP, the government would do well to focus on ensuring that your pre-existing 50 MLAs and 5 MPs deliver effective governance,” he said. (Agencies)
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