Srinagar, May 6 (JKNS): Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra on Wednesday termed the National Conference’s criticism over the Rajya Sabha voting as “misplaced,” asserting that the issue is being used to divert attention from more substantive concerns.
As per news agency JKNS, Parra in a post on X, said 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.
It is also important to revisit recent political context. 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, post reads.
Against this backdrop, it is clear that the PDP did not owe cooperation to the NC. 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, MLA Waheed wrote.
By making these accusations, the NC has responded adversely to the magnanimity of 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, waheed said.
The Rajya Sabha voting process was open and deliberated, and key decisions – such as appointing agent to three votes – were the responsibility of the National Conference. 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 said.
Waheed further wrote that. Interestingly, during the Vice Presidential elections, Aga Ruhullah openly 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, wlWaheed 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 is the one who does not encourage this, believing that any instability is instability for all, post reads.
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, it reads.
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, post reads. (JKNS)