Srinagar, May 6(KNS): Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed Parra on Wednesday rejected the National Conference’s allegations over the recent Rajya Sabha voting outcome, saying the criticism was “misplaced” and diverted attention from substantive issues.
Parra said the matter was being projected as a controversy around the Rajya Sabha vote, whereas it served as a distraction from concerns such as the Siraj-ul-Aloom issue and the removal of Urdu from official records.
He said the political context needed to be revisited, alleging that the National Conference (NC) had earlier weakened opposition unity by disintegrating the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) and excluding the PDP from the INDIA alliance arrangement during the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.
“Against this backdrop, the PDP did not owe cooperation to the NC. Yet, we extended unconditional support despite being aware of internal dissent within the NC,” Parra said.
He termed the allegations against the PDP as “inaccurate and counterproductive,” adding that the responsibility for the Rajya Sabha outcome rested with the NC leadership.
Referring to PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, Parra said she neither abstained from voting nor imposed conditions, and had instead suggested securing the third Rajya Sabha seat rather than turning the fourth seat into a “blame game.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel”
He said the voting process was open and deliberated, and decisions such as appointing polling agents were the responsibility of the NC. “If the issue is that PDP did not appoint an agent for its votes, then how can there be distrust of PDP members who voted?” he asked.
Parra also referred to earlier remarks by NC MP Aga Ruhullah, who had stated during the Vice Presidential election that the party had not clearly communicated its position to its MPs.
He said targeting the PDP would undermine political trust and could contribute to fragmentation of opposition unity in Jammu and Kashmir.
Parra added that continued criticism of the PDP could create difficulties if the NC required support in the Assembly in future.
He said the government should focus on governance and ensure that its legislators and Members of Parliament deliver on public expectations instead of engaging in blame over the Rajya Sabha result.(KNS)