Srinagar, Nov 3 (HS): National Conference spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar on Tuesday expressed hope that Srinagar Lok Sabha member Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi would reconsider his decision, saying the party had always stood for the rights of the people and worked for the welfare of Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking to reporters, Dar said the National Conference was a large organisation and that many people had joined and left the party over the years. “You will remember that in 1984, Ghulam Mohammad Shah formed a rebel group and even ran the government for two years, but his existence did not remain anywhere,” he said.

He said the National Conference had always spoken for the rights of the people and worked for their welfare. Dar said Ruhullah was well aware of the circumstances Jammu and Kashmir was currently going through.

“Omar sahib has not left any platform where he has not spoken for Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, adding that the government had also passed a resolution in the Assembly seeking restoration of Article 370 and statehood.

“I want to ask Ruhullah sahib: where has the National Conference fallen behind? Where are we not speaking?” Dar said.

He suggested that people around Ruhullah might be influencing his thinking. “Perhaps the people around him are putting things into his mind. I don't know what they are telling him,” he said.

Dar maintained that the National Conference was continuously fighting for the restoration of Article 370 and would not back away from the issue.

“We are continuously fighting for the restoration of Article 370 and we will not distance ourselves from it,” he said.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Zahoor Hussain Bhat