Expulsion Driven by Political Differences, Claims Dr. Jaffer Akhoon; Hints at Working With BJP

Kargil, July 18, KNT: Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, Dr. Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon on Saturday claimed that his reported expulsion from the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) was politically motivated and allegedly carried out at the instance of Ladakh Member of Parliament Hanifa Jan.

Speaking to KNT, Akhoon said he had not formally received any expulsion order from the party and had learnt about the development only through social media.

“I have not received any official expulsion letter. I only came to know about it through social media,” he said.

Akhoon alleged that MP Hanifa Jan was unhappy with the way he had been functioning for the development of Kargil and had influenced the party leadership to take disciplinary action against him.

Hinting at a possible association with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Akhoon said his priority was the development of Kargil and that maintaining cordial relations with the BJP-led Central Government was more beneficial than pursuing a confrontational political approach.

“There is a Central Government headed by the BJP. Instead of confrontation, I want to maintain good relations with the Centre for the development of Kargil,” he said.

He also expressed disagreement with the National Conference’s political line, saying he did not favour its support for the Congress.

“I do not like the way the National Conference supports and advocates the Congress. The Congress has a history of confrontation with the BJP-led Central Government,” he said.

Claiming to enjoy strong public and political backing, Akhoon asserted that eight of the 12 councillors in the LAHDC, Kargil, were with him and that “99 per cent of the people of Kargil” supported him rather than the National Conference.

Meanwhile, the National Conference issued an order removing Dr. Akhoon from the party’s primary membership for a period of six years.

In the order, signed by NC General Secretary Haji Ali Mohammad Sagar, the party said the action had been taken in view of Akhoon’s alleged anti-party activities and to maintain discipline within the organisation.

The development marks a major political setback for the National Conference in Kargil and comes amid indications of shifting political equations in the region. [KNT]