Jammu: Terming recent poll outcome as a wake-up call, National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah and Working President Mr Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the party will convert its loss into strength and bounce back with renewed confidence.
“History stands testimony to the fact that National Conference has resurrected as a vibrant force only after challenges”, Dr Farooq said at a day-long convention of block, district and provincial level functionaries of the Jammu region at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan, while exuding confidence that the party will re-emerge as a force to reckon with at the strength of mass support.
According to a statement issued to KNS, he urged the party cadre to close their rank and take the verdict in recently held parliamentary elections to their stride and prepare for the ensuing big battle with vigour and sense of commitment. “Ups and downs are part of the game and there is no reason for workers to feel dejected”, he said and urged the leadership to introspect as to where the party has erred and learn from shortcomings. He referred to the obstacles coming in the way of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah during his chequered career and said ultimately he overcame all his difficulties with unflinching support of the people.
National Conference President gave an account of difficult times his party encountered especially after mid nineties and said it plunged into the field when guns were roaring and the party workers targeted for their sin of standing by the side of people at difficult times. He questioned those undermining the role of National Conference and said the party has never looked back in pursuit of its chartered mission. He referred to the 2002 elections and said National Conference refused to indulge in horse trading despite being the single largest party in the hung Assembly and preferred to remain in the opposition. However, the Peoples Democratic Party, third in the ladder, jumped to forge alliance not for serving the people or undertaking development but to weaken the National Conference, he said. He said Mufti Mohammed Sayeed again tried to negate the mandate of people by travelling to Delhi and offering unconditional support to Congress, just for keeping National Conference out of power in 2008.
Dr Abdullah complimented Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for taking the reins of administration and working tirelessly to steer the state to peace, development and progress against all odds. “He has succeeded in his endeavours which is reflected in enviable report card of his government. He lauded the role of workers and functionaries of National Conference of the entire Jammu region for their role during recently held parliamentary elections and said they worked with sincerity of purpose.
Dr Abdullah also made a mention of machinations being worked out in New Delhi with respect to Article 370 and Uniform Civil Code and urged the people to remain cautious and not allow the unity and peace to get vitiated.
Speaking on the occasion, Additional General Secretary Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal said that National Conference led government has enormously performed during the past five and half years and a massive socio economic transform has taken place under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Earlier, the Provincial President Mr Devender Singh Rana welcomed the delegates. Nearly 103 delegates spoke during the day-long convention, which was attended by about 600 party functionaries including ministers, legislators, former legislators, block, district and provincial level functionaries of the party.