National Conference refreshes its focus for Jammu and Kashmir polls

J&K’s main regional party National Conference (NC) has decided to reframe its narrative for its cadre and voters, reflecting a hardened stand on the politics of identity and regional aspirations ahead of the Assembly polls.

NC leader Tanvir Sadiq, who is also political adviser of the party vice president Omar Abdullah, on Sunday stressed on its workers at Srinagar’s Zadibal “to focus on the discourse bordering the Muslim identity of J&K and the discrimination meted out to locals by the Centre”.

Speaking to

The Hindu , Mr. Sadiq conceded that the narrative is a fresh party approach to “aware the population of the dangerous process of disempowerment launched by the Centre and its supporters in the State”.

He cited the examples of current bureaucracy, judiciary and police in J&K. “All top positions in the State are held by non-locals. From Governor down to superintendent of police at district levels are held by non-Muslims. All advisers, except one, are non-locals who are unaware of the sensibilities on the ground. These is a brazen attempt to dislodge local officers at ever level of governance,” Mr. Sadiq said.

He accused of the BJP of resorting to “minority appeasement” in J&K. “Aspirations of Muslims are sidelined and the focus of the Centre is to appease J&K’s minority,” he added.

Speaking to

The Hindu, Mr. Sadiq said the National Conference has renewed its focus on "uniting and defeating all the forces which want to divide Muslims and Kashmiris" in the State.

“This is an inconceivable condition in other States like U.P., Maharashtra, Madhya Prasdesh, where it cannot even be imagined to have Muslims holding top posts in the administration. If there is even of hint of it, the BJP will cry hoarse and call it minority appeasement. It’s doing opposite in J&K to what they preach in the rest of the country,” the NC leader said.

Top party leaders in the NC told The Hindu that the Centre was “pushing regional parties to the wall” and squeezing “spaces to express aspirations of the Muslims”. “From governance issues, we are pushed to focus on the identity politics now onwards,” said another NC leader on the condition of anonymity.

In a major reach out to its cadre in Kashmir, Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley, the NC has charted a concerted programme to meet its voters and supporters. “Our top leadership will hit the party’s base in all districts and make them aware of what is happening,” said Mr. Sadiq.

Jammu & Kashmir is headed for the Assembly polls either later this year or earlier next year.