Omar hits out at Mehbooba for bus anniversary ''pomp and show''

Baramulla, Apr 8 (UNI) National Conference (NC) President Omar Abdullah today lashed out at his bete noire Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti for ''pomp and show'' on the first anniversary of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service yesterday.

''How can she say that the cross border bus service has given a strong impetus to the ongoing peace process when only 395 people from travelled here to Muzaffarabad?'' Mr Abdullah asked while addressing an election rally at Rafiabad.

Hitting out at the PDP Chief, he said, ''Mehooba is cheating the people of Jammu and Kashmir...Nothing can be obtained by waving a green handkerchief at a rally.'' The NC President said when his party was in power in the state, it succeeded in bringing the Hizbul Mijahideen to a negotiating table.

''But, would they (the PDP) tell the people what have they achieved so far in their tenure?'' he asked.

Mr Abdullah claimed that anti-poll posters have come up at all the places where the NC was in a strong position.

''Recently, anti-election posters by the Hizbul Mujahideen were seen at Pattan. But, the Hizbul Mijahideen later denied of such posters. We want to know who is behind this move,'' he said.

Mr Abdullah also criticised his former colleagues Dilawar Mir and Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, who have since left the NC and joined the PDP, and described them as ''turncoats''.

While Mr Mir is the PDP candidate from Rafiabad constituency, Moulvi Ansari has been fielded by the PDP from Pattan segment.

The NC Chief expressed the hope that his party will win all the three constituencies in the April 24 by-elections.

UNI XC-AG RL PM1931