A day after Peoples Democratic Party expelled 8 senior leaders for engaging in parley with Government of India, these leaders Friday claimed that they are still part of the party and it will be only party president Mehbooba Mufti who could expel them.
While talking to newsmen, three senior expelled leaders including Rafi Ahmed Mir, Abdul Majid Paddar and Abdul Rahim Rather said that ‘so-called’ party spokesperson Sohail Bukhari has no right to issue a statement claiming that the party has expelled them.
“It is beyond my understanding that who presided the Party Disciplinary Committee meeting when the president is in jail and who took this decision to expel senior leaders who are the backbone of the party. Sohail Bukhari can’t expel me as I am the senior party leader who has occupied important positions,” Rafi Mir said.
He said let Mehbooba Mufti held party meeting after her release and take any decision. “We can’t accept decisions like this when leadership is in jail,” he added.
The party face from Noorabad Constituency of Kulgam, Abdul Majid Paddar said that he is the founding member of the party and nobody can show him door. “I fail to understand who is this spokesperson and on whose behest he is issuing statements. We are with party and only party president can take a decision,” he said.
Abdul Rahim Rather, another party leader said that there is every possibility of formation of Third Front in Jammu and Kashmir. He said they were shocked yesterday when some party spokesperson claimed that 8 members have been expelled from the party. “We are waiting for the release of Mehbooba Mufti. Everything will settle when party will sit and decide on the matter,” he said. (KNT)
