Omar behind ban on Shashtoosh trade in J and K:Mehbooba

Srinagar, Dec 2 (UNI) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti today alleged that National Conference (NC) president Omar Abdullah was behind the ban on shahtoosh trade in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a party convention at Badgam in central Kashmir, she said shahtoosh trade was banned in Jammu and Kashmir at the behest of Mr Abdullah.

She said Mr Abdullah, as Union Minister of State for Commerce in the previous NDA government, enforced the ban, giving a blow to this traditional trade and depriving thousands of Kashmiris of their bread and butter.

Referring to recent statement of NC patron Farooq Abdullah demanding revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, Ms Mufti said he had promulgated POTA in the state, even before it was implemented anywhere else in the country.

''We still welcome the transformation in Dr Abdullah if he really means it,'' she said.

Ms Mufti said the leadership of the main opposition NC was ''confused'' as the party did not have any policy to follow.

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