Awami Ittihad Party (AIP) Chief Er. Rasheed on Thursday said that National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are only trying to avoid accountability by wanting a fractured mandate.
“AIP does not want to be seen as a facilitator to divide votes in the upcoming parliamentary elections,” Er. Rasheed.
Rasheed questioned those ‘who used to claim to form secular and non BJP government for their self-centred politics vis-à-vis upcoming parliament elections.’
In a statement Er. Rasheed said, “It is strange that while NC and PDP talk about a common agenda to unite pro-Kashmir voices but now are not only divided but opposing each other tooth and nail. NC is at liberty to approach for an alliance with the Congress but one has a right to ask NC leadership why it didn’t offer an alliance with PDP and other smaller parties.”
AIP Supremo also criticised PDP leadership for indulging in the same practices.
“PDP’s leadership is busy in trying to regain its lost ground from the various suppressive measures being taken by its masters,” Er. Rasheed said.
Rasheed said that the arrogant, egoistic and self-centred attitude of NC and PDP will yield nothing except a fractured mandate.
“Both these so-called main regional parties will again beg BJP and Congress for forming a coalition and thus the miseries of Kashmiris will never end,” he said.
Blaming NC and PDP for its pre-election manoeuvring, Er. Rasheed said, “The fact is that NC and PDP don’t want a huge mandate as they know their worth of not delivering anything and a fractured mandate gives them an excuse to run away from the real issues”.
Er. Rasheed said, “if regional parties are sincere then not only NC and PDP but other forces including PC should have a common minimum programme and contest upcoming parliament election together,” adding, “AIP is ready to support any such alliance in the larger interests of people and will never hesitate from taking concrete and result-oriented measures to consolidate pro-Kashmir voices.”
Appealing the mainstream parties to ensure people that they will not repeat the mistakes of past, Er. Rasheed said, “their unity has to be with some concrete agenda despite differences over a few important issues”.