Srinagar, Oct 29 (KNS): National Conference Sunday re-elected Dr Farooq Abdullah its president at the delegate session of the party held after 15 years at Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket stadium at Sonwar where thousands of delegates of all the regions of the state participated.
The party passed autonomy resolution at the venue insisting that it will keep on fighting for it within the country till it is achieved.
Farooq thanked the party for electing him the president despite his unwillingness for the post.
“I thank you for electing me president again. I did not want to continue as the party president as I am getting old. I wanted Omar to take this responsibility now, so that you leave me (free). But Omar said no. He had told me that he will take this responsibility some day. But I want to assure you that he will have to take this responsibility one day,” Dr Farooq said.
Congratulating his father, Working president of NC, Omar Abdullah said making himself the party president in 2002 was a mistake he did not want to repeat.
“Many people would be surprised by the announcement. There was talk of someone else becoming president but what happened is otherwise. The fact is that Abdullah wanted us to take away this responsibility from him. He forced Ali Muhammad Sagar to call delegates’ session for new election of president,” Omar said.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
“I requested (Dr Farooq) Abdullah a lot and forced him saying that in 2002, a similar function was held here and that time party chose me as president and today my experience tells me that perhaps we made the decision in hurry and we should not have left you,” Omar said.
He said the party needs Abdullah more because of the prevailing situation in the state.
Earlier, the party passed the passed the autonomy resolution vowing to to continue its fight for its restoration.
“We continue to strive for the restoration of autonomy and restoration of Article 370 to its original, pristine form, while condemning those divisive voices who are opposed to the sovereign constitutional guarantees extended to the people of the state,” the resolution reads.
“National Conference has always worked within the constitutional parameters that enshrine the state’s special status. The Kashmir issue should be solved through a sustained dialogue with both internal and external stakeholders. The recently announced initiative through a representative of the government of India should have clarity and seriousness of purpose to ensure the sanctity of the institution of dialogue is restored and upheld,” the resolution said. (KNS)