Srinagar, Nov 06 (HS): National Conference (NC) president and former chief minister Dr Farooq Abdullah on Friday dismissed reports that the party had split into factions after a meeting with its disgruntled MLAs, saying the NC is united and nobody can break it.

He said the party’s fight is for the restoration of statehood and of Articles 370 and 35A, and that it will be taken to its logical conclusion.

He made the remarks to reporters at his residence in Srinagar’s Gupkar area, in the presence of the MLAs, after the meeting. About 15 MLAs attended, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was present during the meeting and the media interaction that followed.

“The baseless reports being spread that the National Conference has splintered into factions are completely wrong,” Farooq said. “This party is united, and those who think they can break it should know that it has never broken, and it never will be.”

On the meeting with the dissenting leaders, he said: “We talked to these people. Their grievances are genuine and were considered carefully. Everyone was heard. Some of the demands will be addressed soon, and steps will be taken gradually to resolve others.” He said the party and the government will be strengthened together.

“Our fight is for the restoration of statehood and of Articles 370 and 35A, and this struggle will be taken to its logical conclusion,” he said.

Bijbehara MLA Dr Bashir Ahmad Veeri called the meeting fruitful and said it served the larger interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the NC. “We placed our demands before our leadership, president Dr Farooq Abdullah Sahib and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Sahib. They were discussed at length. Some demands have been accepted, and others will be accepted and acted upon in the coming time,” he said.

According to Veeri, the demands included, in particular, continuing an aggressive struggle for the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A and the other constitutional rights taken away in 2019, and the party assured them that it had already expressed its commitment to that agenda.

He said the NC is a major political platform for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and will never be allowed to weaken. Shortcomings may exist, he said, but they can be addressed, and he expressed hope that everything would be fine in the coming days.

Gurez MLA Nazir Ahmad Gurezi described the reports of a rift in the party as a product of social media. “We have always placed our demands before our leadership. We came here a few days ago, and social media blew it up to claim that a separate party had emerged from the National Conference. There is nothing of the sort,” he said.

He said the leadership has assured them that some of the issues they raised will be resolved soon and that steps will be taken on others in the coming days.

MLA Mubarak Gul said the dissenting legislators had submitted a memorandum and that the leadership has met half of their demands. “We are one, and we are on the same page,” he said. Asked whether he had not said earlier that he would expose the NC, he replied: “No, that’s enough.”

Gul had abruptly postponed a press conference called at his residence on Wednesday, saying he would speak at an appropriate time. “I am a fighter and I will continue my struggle,” he had said then.

MLA Abdul Majid Larmi said Farooq and Omar accepted at the meeting that the legislators’ grievances were absolutely genuine and would be addressed in stages. “Whether they concern a department or the removal of someone, or strengthening the party, everything was accepted. Whether it is implementing the manifesto or restoring Articles 370 and 35A, all differences have ended,” he said. “I will never leave the party. I will give up my life, but not the National Conference,” he added.

The meeting came at a time when some of the party’s MLAs were reported to be unhappy at being overlooked in the October 27 Cabinet expansion and reshuffle, in which four new ministers were sworn in.

According to party sources, the dissenting MLAs had asked the leadership to address their grievances. They are understood to have the support of three Independent MLAs, while the leadership had asked them not to include the Independents in the delegation meeting the chief minister and the party president.

Hazratbal MLA Salman Sagar had on Thursday dismissed reports of a rebellion, describing the legislators’ grievances as minor and saying they would be resolved through talks. The party had made Gul general secretary to ease his discontent, but withdrew the order within a day and retained Ali Mohammad Sagar in the post.

All this comes as the party faces another major setback. Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi announced on November 3 at a large gathering in Budgam, on his father’s death anniversary, that he was quitting the NC and resigning from the Lok Sabha, and sharply criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has accepted his resignation with effect from November 3, and the Srinagar seat has been vacated, according to a Lok Sabha Secretariat notification of November 5.

Meanwhile, a NC spokesperson said in a statement that an extraordinary meeting was held today at the Gupkar Road residence of NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah, under his chairmanship. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the party’s MLAs attended.

The meeting discussed organisational matters, party activities and programmes, as well as the current political situation and the future course of action. The MLAs who attended placed their concerns and reservations before the meeting, which the party president heard patiently and assured them that these would be addressed.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Zahoor Hussain Bhat