Mufti is New Delhi's agent in J

Srinagar, Nov 1 (UNI) National Conference President Omar Abdullah today alleged that former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was an ''agent and a mouthpiece'' of New Delhi in Jammu and Kashmir.

''If the Government of India is in favour of the PDP's self-rule proposal, it should speak on its own and not ask Mr Sayeed to do so,'' he told a news conference here.

Mr Abdullah alleged that Mr Sayeed speaks in different languages in Kashmir, Jammu and New Delhi unlike his father Farooq Abdullah.

''Dr Abdullah always spoke in one language at different places.

If he said Jai Hind in Kashmir, he did so in Jammu and New Delhi as well. We should appreciate that. Whenever he was asked to work as an agent, he sacrificed the chair. His record is clear,'' he added.

The former Union Minister claimed that Dr Abdullah never forced any Prime Minister to say a particular thing in Kashmir. He never weakened the laws of the state, the NC President added.

''Why does the leadership in Delhi have to create agents and mouthpiece and present them before the people of Jammu and Kashmir to propagate their proposals? I fail to understand,'' he said, referring to Mr Sayeed.

''If the government has to talk about opening the road and other issues, why don't they do it on their own. Why make others speak for them?'' Mr Abdullah asked.

''Come and announce it here. New Delhi has always looked for its agents and mouthpeice here. When they are through with these agents, new ones are promoted,'' he alleged.

Mr Abdullah said if the NC wanted to be in power, it would have manipulated the 2002 Assembly elections. ''Nobody helped us win the elections in the state. We never felt the need of New Delhi's help.

We were never in favour of forming a government in Jammu and Kashmir with the help of New Delhi. There were agents and representatives of several agencies roaming here in 2002 to sell legislators,'' he added.

The NC leader said his party had the mandate of the people and never wanted to rule the state as ''somebody's agents''.

UNI AG AK BS1758