India
‘When Kejriwal was released on bail…’: Omar Abdullah attacks BJP for ‘welcoming’ Rashid’s bail; BJP refutes claims – Times of India
NEW DELHI: National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Wednesday accused the BJP of an inconsistent stand on bail for political leaders. He pointed out that the BJP “welcomed” bail to Awami Ittehad Party founder and MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid in a terror financing case while the court granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during the Lok Sabha elections.
“When Kejriwal was granted bail by the court during the Lok Sabha elections, look at the reactions of BJP leaders who questioned the court order and even termed it undemocratic. But when Rashid was released for a limited period, BJP people were the first to welcome the court order,” the NC leader said.
Abdullah accused the BJP of supporting smaller groups and independent candidates with the aim of forming the next government in Jammu and Kashmir with their help.
“They are ready to form a government with the same people who are in jail for the last 35 years for fighting against the country and who are talking about merging Kashmir with Pakistan. There are numerous independent candidates in the fray,” Abdullah said.
Abdullah also said that the NC has sacrificed the lives of thousands of workers for the country in the last 35 years.
Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina, however, said an order asking party workers in the Valley to attend the welcome meeting of Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid was “fake” and an act of “frustrated opposition”. He added that he has requested the Election Commission to register an FIR in “the political fraud”.
Abdullah made the remarks at a campaign event in support of Mehbooba Iqbal, the party’s candidate in Bhaderwah in Doda district. The first round of the three-phase elections, scheduled for September 18, includes voting in Bhaderwah and 23 other assembly seats spread across the Chenab Valley and south Kashmir districts.
“When Kejriwal was granted bail by the court during the Lok Sabha elections, look at the reactions of BJP leaders who questioned the court order and even termed it undemocratic. But when Rashid was released for a limited period, BJP people were the first to welcome the court order,” the NC leader said.
Abdullah accused the BJP of supporting smaller groups and independent candidates with the aim of forming the next government in Jammu and Kashmir with their help.
“They are ready to form a government with the same people who are in jail for the last 35 years for fighting against the country and who are talking about merging Kashmir with Pakistan. There are numerous independent candidates in the fray,” Abdullah said.
Abdullah also said that the NC has sacrificed the lives of thousands of workers for the country in the last 35 years.
Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina, however, said an order asking party workers in the Valley to attend the welcome meeting of Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid was “fake” and an act of “frustrated opposition”. He added that he has requested the Election Commission to register an FIR in “the political fraud”.
Abdullah made the remarks at a campaign event in support of Mehbooba Iqbal, the party’s candidate in Bhaderwah in Doda district. The first round of the three-phase elections, scheduled for September 18, includes voting in Bhaderwah and 23 other assembly seats spread across the Chenab Valley and south Kashmir districts.
