2 PDP MPs skip meet, one slams party for promoting ‘sycophancy’

Signalling differences, two senior MPs of ruling PDP stayed away from the party’s review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed with one of them accusing the leadership of “muzzling” the voice of dissent within the party.

Lok Sabha MP from prestigious Srinagar Constituency Tariq Hameed Karra and member Parliament from Baramulla seat Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, both former state finance ministers, abstained from the PDP meeting convened yesterday to review the performance of the party ministers in the state’s coalition government.

“What is the point in attending a meeting where the leadership is not willing to listen to you? Dissenting voices are being muzzled there (in PDP),” Karra said on Sunday.

Karra, who defeated National Conference stalwart Farooq Abdullah in the Lok Sabha elections last year, said “psychophancy is being promoted” within the ruling party.

“We went to the people of the state (during elections) saying that there is oppression under National Conference rule.