SRINAGAR: Junaid Azim Mattu, who recently parted ways with Sajad Lone, joined National Conference on Sunday at a function at NC headquarters.
A group of supporters raising slogans in favor of Mattu and the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah took him to Nawa-e-Subh complex in a car rally from his residence in Barzulla.
Mattu was welcomed at Nawa-e-Subh by National Conference additional General Secretary and MLA Hazratbal Dr. Mustafa Kamal, NC Provisional President and MLA Amira Kadal Nasir Aslam Wani, NC Provisional Vice President North Abdul Rashid Shaheen, District President Srinagar and MLA Zadibal, Peer Afaq Ahmad, Former Mayor and NC youth leader Salman Ali Sagar, District President Youth National Conference Hilal Sofi, Former Deputy Mayor Sajjad Chashoo and various senior functionaries of National Conference.
Welcoming Mattu to National Conference, Dr. Mustafa Kamal said that Mattus grandfather, Ghulam Ahmad Ashai was one of the tallest founders of the party, a visionary educationist and a close associate of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.
Dr. Kamal said that he was personally overjoyed at Junaids joining and saw a bright future for him in the party and had no doubt that Junaid would serve the party with passion and dedication. Dr. Kamal said that Mattu was a talented young leader who brings a certain skill-set with him that could be effectively utilized in the party.
Speaking on the occasion, NC Provisional President and MLA Amira Kadal Nasir Sogami, while welcoming Mattu to NC said that Mattu would get all possible support from the party cadre and functionaries in serving the people of this State. Nasir said that Junaid was not a stranger in National Conference and had a sacred relationship of blood, history and sacrifices with the party.
Thanking NC leadership for the faith reposed in him, Mattu said that his joining comes in the view of both certain eye-opening realizations as well as certain clandestine developments that aim at fragmenting the State and polarizing it along religious lines.
Mattu said that Omar Abdullah was not only perhaps the only Statesman of contemporary Kashmiri politics but also a humble, perceptive leader who believed more in actions than in words.
Stating that he has deep historic roots in NC, Mattu said that Kashmir couldnt afford to go forward in an era of proxy-ism and polarization without the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who has the same creed of political vision, acumen and stature that we saw in Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. Junaid said that there was a need to re-introduce the dream of Naya Kashmir among the youth and acquaint them with our history of triumph of good over evil.
Mattu said that the achievements of Omar Abdullahs government have been under-marketed and also said that Muftis unrealistic and nauseatingly complete investment in the art of marketing-gimmicks needs to be countered with the truth.
Mattu also expressed alarm at the growing apprehensions of a covert tie-up between PDP and BJP in the run up to the coming Parliamentary and Assembly elections in the State and said that Kashmiris would never forgive PDP for this unholy nexus.
Others who spoke on the occasion included MLA Zadibal Peer Afaq and former mayor of Srinagar, Salman Ali Sagar. Salman Sagar while welcoming Mattu to NC, termed his joining as a homecoming and said that Mattu would be supported at every juncture by the youth wing of the party in addition to the trust reposed in him by the senior party leadership.
