Tauseef Ahmad
Bandipora, July 3: A public confrontation between alliance partners National Conference (NC) and Congress intensified in north Kashmir’s Bandipora on Friday after Congress MLA Nizamuddin Bhat alleged that he was attacked during an official review meeting, while NC leader Jalal Akbar Lone rejected the allegations, claiming he had intervened only to prevent the situation from escalating.
Addressing a press conference after the incident, Bhat alleged that Jalal Akbar Lone, brother of Sonawari MLA Hilal Akbar Lone, along with several supporters, disrupted an official review meeting at Naidkhai block by forcing their way into the venue, damaging property and attempting to intimidate him as well as government officials.
According to Bhat, the meeting had been convened to review the implementation of various development projects and assess expenditure on works, including a sports stadium and other rural development schemes. He alleged that some participants initially objected to the discussion and walked out before returning with more supporters, creating panic inside the meeting hall.
The Congress legislator urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to personally intervene, warning that if the government and the National Conference failed to act against those responsible, the incident would have consequences for the NC-Congress alliance. He also sought legal action, saying that disrupting official proceedings and attempting to assault an elected representative constituted a serious offence.
Hours later, Jalal Akbar Lone addressed a separate press conference and categorically denied the allegations. He said he had no intention of confronting the MLA and reached the venue only after local party workers informed him that tensions were rising during the meeting.
Lone claimed that upon arriving, he repeatedly appealed to his supporters to leave the venue and maintain peace, fearing the gathering of hundreds of people outside could trigger a larger confrontation. He maintained that his sole objective was to prevent violence.
He further alleged that during the altercation, Bhat attempted to snatch the weapon of a police security officer, an allegation that the MLA has not responded to publicly. Lone also accused Bhat of using inappropriate language against local youth after leaving the meeting and said he possessed video footage that he intended to share with the media.
Expressing regret if Bhat had felt offended by his actions, Lone said he was willing to face any inquiry if found guilty. However, he accused the Congress MLA of insulting National Conference workers, politicising what he described as an official review meeting and discriminating in the allocation of development works. He also alleged that several development works had been awarded to individuals close to the MLA, a claim that could not be independently verified.
The incident has exposed fresh strains within the ruling NC-Congress alliance in Jammu and Kashmir. Neither the district administration nor the police had issued an official statement on the incident by the time of filing this report, and the competing claims made by both sides remain independently unverified.
