Leaders of People’s Conference annoyed as Sajjad Lone not given time to speak at rally with Modi-Mufti

PC supporters who had come from North Kashmir’s Handwara and Kupwara areas were left dejected when Sajjad Lone didn’t address the rally, though he was present on the stage along with other cabinet ministers.

Leaders and workers of People’s Conference are annoyed as Sajjad Lone was not given a time to speak at a joint rally where Prime Minister, Narendra Modi announced a package for the Jammu and Kashmir.

Before, Prime Minister Modi’s speech, J&K chief minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and the PDP president and Member Parliament, Mehbooba Mufti addressed the rally.

Lone who is a minister in the PDP- BJP coalition government on BJP quota was to address the rally as chairman of the Peoples Conference.

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Sources in the Peoples Conference say that as per roster of the rally, Sajad Lone was to address the rally for three minutes soon after PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti ended her speech; however, Mufti who was conducting the proceeding the rally, instead of Sajad Lone invited her father and J&K chief minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to address the crowd.

PC supporters who had come from North Kashmir’s Handwara and Kupwara areas were left dejected when Sajjad Lone didn’t address the rally, though he was present on the stage along with other cabinet ministers.

PC supporters, however, blame PDP president Mehbooba Mufti for not giving time to Lone as the PDP considers PC as its rival in Kashmir. “It was a deliberate move by the PDP president to undermine Lone’s stature,’’ said a PC worker who attended the rally.

Interestingly, Prime Minister, Modi also skipped Lone’s name in his address.

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PDP chief spokesman, Mehboob Beg feigned ignorance why PC chairman was not given time to address the rally. “I have no information about this,’’ Beg told The Indian Express.

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