War of words between Baig and Mir continues

Srinagar, Apr 20 (UNI) The war of words between Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig and dissident Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Ghulam Hassan Mir continued today with both pointing fingers at each other.

Addressing an unscheduled news conference here, Mr Mir accused the Deputy Chief Minister of being behind the poll boycott posters that had come up in three Assembly constituencies of Pattan, Sangrama and Rafiabad in Baramulla district where by-elections would be held on April 24.

He also ruled out any split in the PDP, but said the party was deviating from its policies.

''There will be no split in the PDP. We are fighting for the survival of the party. Let us wait till April 28 when the results of the by-elections would come,'' Mr Mir said.

He alleged that Mr Baig was utilising the services of surrendered militants to ensure poll boycott in the three Assembly constituencies.

The former Tourism Minister said the anti-election posters were being put up at the behest of Mr Baig.

The Deputy Chief Minister had separate meetings with surrendered militants and also the police officers to ensure that his nephew, Javed Hussain Baig, won the by-elections from Sangrama, he claimed.

Defying the party stand and the leadership, Mr Mir has been openly campaigning for independent candidate from Sangrama, Shoaib Nabi Lone, the son of then Minister of State for Education Dr Ghulam Nabi Lone, who was assassinated by unidentified gunmen at high-security Tulsi Bagh area in Srinagar on October 18 last year.

The main opposition National Conference (NC) is also supporting Shoaib Lone.

The rebel leader said the PDP was formed as an alternative to the NC, but the leadership has deviated from the party policies and programmes.

Mr Baig had yesterday challenged Mr Mir asking him to quit his Assembly seat and seek fresh mandate if he had the courage and conviction of opposing the party leadership and its manifesto.

On this, Mr Mir said he will do so provided the Deputy Chief Minister also resigned and sought fresh mandate.

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