National Conference distances itself from leader's 'Pak zindabad' chants in J&K house

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, currently in its budget session in winter capital Jammu, on Saturday witnessed a bizarre situation when opposition National Conference (NC) member and former Speaker Muhammad Akbar Lone chanted ‘Pakistan zindabad (Long live Pakistan)’ in the House.

He did that to counter ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs who had earlier chanted ‘Pakistan murdabad (down with Pakistan)” in the House in the backdrop of the terror attack on an Army station in Jammu’s Sunjwan area.

Also Read: 'Pak hand clear': JeM terrorists attack Jammu Army camp, kill 2 officers​

The NC has distanced itself from the remarks made by Lone who presents Kashmir Valley’s Sonawari constituency in the Assembly. The NC’s working president and former Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, said that focus should be on Sunjwan militant attack instead of “misplaced” slogans. “We need to focus on the unfortunate developments in Sunjwan Army camp and not get distracted by misplaced slogans,” he tweeted.

He endorsed his party president Farooq Abdullah’s stand on the issue. In another tweet, Omar said: “Totally endorse my Party President’s views outlined in these two tweets. The party will say nothing more on this issue.”

Earlier, NC spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu said entire party has the clear stand over Lone remarks which are unacceptable to the party. “Just spoke to @JKNC_ President Dr Farooq Abdullah Sahib. Dr Sahib and the entire party is of the unequivocal stand that NC MLA from Sonawari Mr Akbar Lone has spoken out of turn and his slogans in the Legislative Assembly are completely unacceptable to the party,” Mattu tweeted.

In another tweet, Mattu said Lone should not forget that he belongs to a party that rejected the two nation theory. 

“Hon'ble @JKNC_ President has said the NC MLA should not forget that he belongs to a party that rejected the two nation theory and he should also remember the oath he swears in the name of God at the beginning of his terms. The party disowns and condemns his remark,” the NC spokesman tweeted.