Srinagar, Nov 6 (KNS): A group of National Conference legislators, whose recent meetings and demands for changes in the party and government had sparked speculation about internal differences, met party president Dr Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday, with the leadership acknowledging their grievances and assuring that steps would be taken to address them.

The meeting came days after the legislators submitted an eight-point memorandum to the party leadership, seeking time-bound implementation of election promises, organisational reforms, greater consultation in decision-making and changes in the functioning of the government.

Speaking to Kashmir News Service (KNS) after the meeting, Dr Farooq Abdullah acknowledged that the concerns raised by the legislators were genuine and said the leadership had heard them in detail.

"We have spoken to them. Their problems were genuine and they were heard properly. We will take some steps quickly and some steps slowly," Abdullah said.

He said efforts would be made to strengthen both the party organisation and the government to ensure that public grievances were addressed effectively.

Rejecting reports of a possible rebellion or split within the ruling party, Abdullah asserted that the National Conference remained united.

"The news that a split is taking place in the National Conference is completely baseless. This community is organised, and those who think they can break it should remember that it has never been broken and never will be," he said.

Senior NC legislator Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, who was among those who met the leadership, also dismissed speculation about the formation of a separate group within the party.

"We are the legislators of the National Conference. We come to our party leadership every time with our issues," Gurezi said.

He said a recent gathering of legislators had been portrayed on social media as an attempt to form a separate political group.

"There was no party. There were some issues that we brought in front of the Honorable Chief Minister and Honorable Farooq," he said.

Gurezi said the leadership had assured the legislators that some issues would be resolved immediately while others would be addressed gradually.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

The developments followed a meeting of NC legislators at the residence of Lolab MLA Qaiser Jamsheed Lone, after which an eight-point memorandum was submitted to Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah.

The memorandum sought implementation of the party's 2024 election manifesto within a defined timeframe, restoration of statehood and special status, and implementation of assurances made during an earlier meeting at Dachigam.

The legislators also sought cabinet restructuring, changes in ministerial portfolios, removal of the Chief Minister's adviser, constitution of a four-member consultative advisory group and reforms in the party's organisational and media structures.

They had expressed concern that several issues discussed at the Dachigam meeting had not been acted upon despite assurances from the leadership.

The legislators' meetings had assumed significance following the recent cabinet expansion, amid reports of dissatisfaction among some party MLAs over representation and the functioning of the government.

Friday's meeting provided an opportunity for the legislators to directly convey their concerns to the party's top leadership.

However, no specific decisions on cabinet restructuring or other demands were announced following the interaction.

Meanwhile, Farooq Abdullah reiterated the National Conference's commitment to pursuing restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood and special constitutional status.

"Our fight for the restoration of statehood will continue. Our fight for Article 370 and Article 35A will also continue, and, God willing, we will take the matter to the Supreme Court," he said.

The meeting comes amid growing demands within the National Conference for greater consultation between the party leadership and its legislators and faster implementation of commitments made to the people during the Assembly elections.

While the leadership has acknowledged the concerns and assured action, the legislators have indicated that they will continue to raise political and governance-related issues through the party's internal forums. (KNS)