Rift in ruling NC widens, Javid Choudhary calls Surinder Choudhary ‘thug’

Despite intervention by National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to contain the growing dissidence, infighting within the ruling National Conference (NC) is far from over, with Budhal MLA Javid Iqbal Choudhary launching a fresh attack on Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, calling him a “thug” and declaring that he did not deserve his presence at official functions.

Javid Iqbal Choudhary made the latest remarks while responding to an Instagram post questioning his absence from a function attended by the Deputy Chief Minister in Rajouri. He asserted that his self-respect and the interests of his people took precedence over attending the latter’s functions.

“The Dy CM is a thug and does not deserve my presence at his functions. My self-respect and the interests of my people come first”, he wrote.

Interestingly, MLA Choudhary’s attack at the deputy CM has come within hours after he met J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha.  He wrote on Instagram “Met the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir at Jammu today. During the meeting, I discussed various issues concerning the Haj pilgrimage and also took up several important matters related to the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, highlighting the concerns and aspirations of the people of this  region.    I am grateful to the Hon’ble LG for giving a patient hearing to the issues raised”.

The remarks of the MLA have once again brought to fore the growing rift within the NC, particularly among MLAs from the Pir Panjal region, who have repeatedly accused the Deputy CM of discriminating against their constituencies. The Deputy CM is also from the Pir Panjal region.

On June 3, the MLAs had slammed the Deputy CM in front of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at Dachigam over the functioning of the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department headed by him. In a memorandum submitted to Dr. Farooq Abdullah , the dissident MLAs had also demanded that the Deputy CM be stripped of the R&B portfolio.