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Soz may form new party

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

Sacked National Conference leader Professor Saifuddin Soz has accused the party leadership of betraying Kashmiris.

"My expulsion is unfortunate. It seems the NC is getting estranged from Kashmiris. The people of Kashmir did not vote us to support the rabidly communal BJP and RSS," he told Rediff On The NeT in a telephone interview from Delhi, "The NC leadership seems to have forgotten Shiekh Mohammad Abdullah's legacy."

The NC member of Parliament from Baramullah in Jammu and Kashmir was expelled for voting against the BJP against the party whip.

Professor Soz, who claimed that he wasn't bitter, said he may form a new party. "I will decide that after I meet my people in Kashmir," he said, "I know I have support. All secular parties are with me."

He has been a staunch supporter for greater autonomy to JK. He wanted the NC to ally with secular parties. Ever since Chief Minister and NC boss Dr Farooq Abdullah chose to support the BJP-led government at Centre, Prof Soz had been voicing dissent. So much so that he was divested of his charge as the NC chief spokesman and the chief of party in the Lok Sabha.

During the confidence vote, Prof Soz had even gone to the extent of advising the two other MPs, including Dr Abdullah's son Omar, to vote according to their conscience.

Prof Soz, born in the northern border town of Baramullah, had his early education there. He did his masters in political science. He was the registrar of the Kashmir university. He also headed the JK Board of School Education. On his retirement, Soz joined the NC and has been representing Barramulla since.

"I will go back to Kashmir and consult my people. I have lot of support in Kashmir and that is my strength. I will fight for the interests of Kashmiris," he said.

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