JKNS DESK
Jammu, Nov 7 (JKNS): Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Saturday said the National Conference leadership had addressed concerns raised by party legislators through discussions with them, urging an end to speculation over internal differences and calling for greater focus on public issues.
Speaking to reporters after paying obeisance at Bawe Wali Mata temple ahead of Diwali, as per news agency JKNS, Choudhary said NC president Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had held discussions with all legislators, leaving no reason to prolong the controversy.
“When the party president and the Chief Minister have discussed the matter with all MLAs, that should be the end of it. We should move on,” he said.
His remarks came a day after the National Conference leadership held a meeting with legislators reportedly unhappy over their exclusion from the recently expanded Council of Ministers. The party had dismissed reports of internal differences as baseless.
Questioning the repeated focus on political developments, Choudhary asked whether such coverage would help address unemployment or secure the regularisation of daily-wage workers in Jammu and Kashmir.
He alleged that certain sections of the media were giving greater attention to political controversies than to issues directly affecting the people.
The Deputy Chief Minister also raised the issue of local representation in key administrative positions, referring to the retirement of former Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on November 1 without an extension.
He questioned why a local officer could not have been appointed to the top administrative post if an extension was not being considered for Dulloo, adding that the appointee could belong to any community but should have roots in the region.
Choudhary also questioned the BJP’s response to the issue, alleging that the party was following a particular narrative instead of raising concerns specific to Jammu and Kashmir. (JKNS)
