Srinagar, Feb 11: Peoples Conference (PC) Monday announced party candidates for Baramulla and Srinagar Parliament seats.
Former IG and a leading political leader Raja Aijaz Ali will represent the party from north while Irfan Reza Ansari will be the candidate for Srinagar Parliament seat, a party spokesperson said in a press statement.
It said that Peoples Conference Central Election Committee (CEC) met under the chairmanship of Sajad Gani Lone to deliberate on probable party candidates for the upcoming Parliament elections.
“After detailed discussion and thorough consideration, the CEC has finalized the names of Raja Aijaz Ali for Baramulla seat and Irfan Reza Ansari for Srinagar seat.”
Raja Aijaz Ali, a former police officer who retired as IGP, contested the Assembly Elections in 2014 from Uri and ended up as runner up with almost 19000 votes while prominent businessman and industrialist Irfan Reza Ansari is son of Late Moulvi Ifthikar Hussain Ansari and social activist of note.
The party leadership expressed “full confidence in the ability of its candidates to represent and defend the aspirations and sentiments of the people of J&K in the Parliament of India.”
Peoples Conference will be a ‘breath of fresh air’ in comparison with the status-quo politics of NC & PDP. “We will serve the people with earnest dedication so as to realize the potential of ‘Kashmiri dreams’ and work hard towards real empowerment of the masses especially economic empowerment. It is our commitment to improves opportunities for youth and reverse decades of anti youth policies adapted by successive NC-PDP governments.” the statement said.
According to observers PC would be locked in direct contest with NC in north Kashmir. “The PC has strengthened in the region after prominent political bigwigs like Imran Raza Ansari, Abdul Gani Vakil, Raja AIjaz Ali, Irfan Panditpuri and others joined the party.” KNS
Sajjad defends Article 35A, says it is non-negotiable
Srinagar, Feb 11 : Defending Article 35-A, Peoples Conference (PC) chairman Sajad Gani Lone Monday said “the tinkering of J&K’s special position is partly responsible for the bloodshed in Kashmir.”
Lone said, “The Article 35A is non-negotiable and has a legal and political context.”
“Article 35A has a legal and a political context. Hope Supreme Court understands that we in Kashmir see the Act as non-negotiable. Last three decades have witnessed violence. And partly the reason is irrational tinkering with special status and frivolous litigation,” Lone tweeted.
Lone made these remarks ahead of the hearing of the Article 35A in the Supreme Court. (KNS)
