Calls on Centre to Honour the People’s Mandate
NC-Led Alliance Holds Key Legislative Meeting in Srinagar, Passes Two Resolutions
SRINAGAR, April 4 — The ruling National Conference (NC) and its alliance partners held a crucial legislative party meeting in Srinagar on Friday, during which two major resolutions were passed, including a call for the central government to respect the democratic mandate of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The two-hour meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, took place at the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary in Gupkar. It was attended by NC President Dr. Farooq Abdullah, cabinet ministers, NC MLAs, four Congress legislators led by Chief Whip Nizamuddin Bhat, and several independent lawmakers supporting the government.
The meeting comes amid rising tensions between the Raj Bhawan and the six-month-old NC-led administration, following recent administrative decisions by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. It also gains significance ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s scheduled three-day visit to the Union Territory starting April 6.
Addressing the media post-meeting, NC Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said the alliance unanimously passed two resolutions. “The first resolution rejects the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, terming it discriminatory and not in the interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. “The second resolution urges the BJP-led central government to honour the democratic will of the people, especially in light of recent unilateral decisions by the LG’s office.”
“We want to govern with mutual respect, but our silence should not be mistaken for weakness,” Sadiq warned. “We are cooperating with both the LG administration and the Centre, but we will not accept unjust or one-sided decisions. We urge the Centre not to push us to the wall.”
He reaffirmed the alliance’s commitment to protecting the rights and aspirations of the people, stating that the alliance would continue engaging constructively with the administration.
Congress MLA from Bandipora, Nizamuddin Bhat, echoed similar sentiments, saying all lawmakers stood united under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. “This meeting addressed both political and administrative challenges that impact people’s lives,” Bhat said.
He added that long-term and short-term concerns were discussed in detail, including the functioning of the Waqf Board, the need for a people-centric administration, and the current public sentiment in the Union Territory.
Two senior Congress leaders were unable to attend the meeting due to prior commitments in New Delhi. “They asked me to represent the party in this important meeting,” Bhat informed.
He emphasized that while certain forces may attempt to disturb the region’s peace, all stakeholders in the alliance are committed to upholding democratic values. “We believe the legislature is a strong and credible institution that embodies the people’s mandate. All political parties must work collectively to ensure peace and development in Jammu and Kashmir,” Bhat added.
