‘Article 370, 35-A remain NC’s agenda’: Farooq Abdullah reaffirms fight for restoration amid party rift rumours

Rules out party split, says National Conference united; assures disgruntled legislators their genuine issues will be addressed

Srinagar: Amid speculation over internal differences within the National Conference, party president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Friday reiterated that the party’s fight for the restoration of Article 370 and Article 35-A, along with statehood, would continue, asserting that these issues remain central to its political agenda.

Speaking to reporters after a high-level meeting with disgruntled NC legislators at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s Srinagar residence, Dr Farooq dismissed reports of a possible split in the party as baseless.

Farooq said the National Conference was an organised political party that had neither broken in the past nor would it break in the future.

“Those who think that the party has broken are mistaken,” he said, adding that the leadership had sat together with the legislators and listened to their concerns seriously.

Farooq said the issues raised by the legislators would be addressed, with some measures being taken immediately and others in a phased manner. He said the government would be strengthened to ensure that the difficulties faced by people were resolved.

Reaffirming the party’s political commitment, he said the struggle for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood would continue alongside the demand for the restoration of Article 370 and Article 35-A.

The remarks assume significance amid renewed speculation about internal differences within the ruling party, with the meeting bringing the leadership and disgruntled legislators together to discuss their concerns.

NC leader Nazir Gurezi also dismissed reports of a breakaway faction, saying that no separate party had emerged from the National Conference.

Gurezi said legislators had repeatedly approached the party leadership with their concerns and that a recent gathering had been blown out of proportion on social media, triggering speculation about the formation of a new political outfit.

He said the issues raised by the legislators were placed before Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and party president Farooq Abdullah, who had assured them that their concerns would be addressed.

“Whether political or related to other matters, some issues will be resolved immediately, while work on others will take time,” Gurezi said.

The meeting comes as the NC leadership faces demands from within its legislative ranks, even as Farooq Abdullah has reiterated that the party’s political struggle for statehood and the restoration of Article 370 and Article 35-A will remain on its agenda.