Congress boycotts Chief Minister’s Iftar party

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 3

To register protest against “witch-hunting” of the coalition regime, the Congress boycotted the “much publicised” Iftar party hosted by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed this evening.

The Chief Minister’s Office had extended invitation to all political parties, prominent citizens and important persons from all sections of the society for the Iftar party. The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) was also extended the invitation. Congress leaders convened a meeting this evening in which it was unanimously decided to boycott the party.

Defending decision of his party to boycott the Iftar party, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir said the decision was taken as a mark of protest against discriminatory policies being adopted by the state government against the Opposition.

In a democratic system there should be some coordination between the Opposition and ruling party, Mir observed, but regretted that the present dispensation had singled out the Congress for political reasons.

“There is no reason to attend the Iftar party hosted by the Chief Minister because the state government has failed to develop relations between the Opposition and ruling party,” he said.