KD CORRESPONDENT
SRINAGAR, Nov 22: Congress whip and Bandipora legislator Nizam-ud-din Bhat on Saturday said that serious deliberations are currently underway between the Congress high command and the National Conference (NC) to decide the future of their political alliance and to finalise the terms and conditions for a possible continuation of the partnership. He stated that discussions at the central leadership level are focused on drafting a structured understanding that could shape the alliance strategy in the coming time.
Addressing media persons in Bandipora, Bhat launched a strong criticism of Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad, asserting that Azad made a major political mistake by leaving the Congress and is now paying the price as his party weakens day by day, with several senior leaders returning to Congress after losing confidence in DPAP’s direction.
Bhat also observed that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should evaluate the performance of the past year, pointing out that the National Conference recently lost a seat it had previously secured with a large margin, which, according to him, should serve as a warning for internal introspection instead of complacency.
Referring to the recent blast in Delhi, Bhat strongly condemned the incident and appealed to authorities and the public across the country to ensure that Kashmiris, particularly students studying outside the Valley, are not harassed, profiled or viewed with suspicion. He stressed that Kashmiris are citizens of India and should not be treated as uncertain or unsafe individuals when they travel or pursue education elsewhere.
Speaking about the ongoing anti-encroachment drive in Bandipora, Bhat criticised the district administration for forcibly evicting local residents from their land without serving proper notices or giving them an opportunity to respond. He said authorities must follow legal procedures, provide adequate time to affected families, and avoid actions that snatch away livelihoods overnight, calling the manner of execution harsh and unacceptable.
