Srinagar: Ex Deputy Chief Minister (Dy CM) Muzaffar Hussain Baigh and former patron of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday joined Peoples Conference (PC).
Earlier during the day PC chairman Sajad Gani Lone accompanied by senior party leaders visited the residence of Baig. They had conversion with him on a range of issues afflicting the people of J&K in these difficult times.
Sajad, who was a minister in the PDP-BJP coalition government from the quota of saffron party, invited Baig to once again return home and be a part of the party from where he had started his political career. He impressed upon him that the need of the hour is that people like him should share their experience, expertise, knowledge and political wisdom for the betterment of J&K.
Baig keenly participated in the conversation and after detailed discussion expressed his pleasure to be a part of the party from where he started his political career. He said that it gives him immense pleasure to be a part of the party which he joined as a youth and was groomed by Late Abdul Gani Lone, founder of PC.
Today he has the opportunity to groom Sajad Lone and many others to take up leadership role in the future times to come.
Baig said that in his entire public life he had causes for being happy and many causes where he was disappointed where he felt that he couldn’t do enough or didn’t have time to do enough.
But, he said, he felt that apart from many problems plaguing J&K, one of the biggest problems is the quality of leadership. He said that quite often he found that the leaders didn’t have the requisite exposure or the capacity to be able to contribute at a scale and at a level that he or she is supposed to do. He expressed his great desire to contribute by grooming youngsters and building their capacity to a level where they can actually rise up to the occasion and rise up for the people of J&K.
Sajad Lone thanked Baig and reiterated that the entire party looks up to him and believes that at this juncture Mr Baig has a great role in helping the people of J&K to navigate the turbulent and treacherous waters.
Baig was among the founder leaders of PDP and after the death of former CM Mufti Mohammad Sayed was appointed its patron.
However, senior PDP leaders criticized his role during the post August 5, 2019, when centre abrogated Article 370 and 35 A besides divided J&K into two Union Territories (UTs). Later, Baig was sidelined and not invited for meetings after the release of Mehbooba Mufti from the detention.
Safena Baig, wife of Baig, who was president of women wing of PDP contested and later was elected as chairman of District Development Council (DDC) as an independent candidate after she was not given ticket by the party.
