JK: Farooq blames Cong for misusing power

Jammu, Dec 18: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah has alleged that the ruling Congress party applied government machinery to influence the rival party members and turned results in its favour in Poonch-Haveli assembly by-election.

Dr Abdullah blamed the Congress for misusing power in the election and said, ''We are not worried over the Poonch poll defeat. Congress is a big and rich party and we can not afford it.'' ''Congress used money power to influence some of our strong party members and installed them to contest polls and turned results in its favour,'' Dr Abdullah said at the sidelines of a function organised here yesterday.

Meanwhile, taking a serious note of the Poonch by-polls, he said that the Congress party had the record of involving in such acts but in the next assembly election National Conference would chalk out a strategy and give a strong reply.

''Defeat in Poonch by-polls is a lesson for the National Conference while party president Omar Abdullah will be holding a meeting of the senior party leaders shortly to discuss the shortcomings and conduct self-introspection,'' Dr Abdullah added.

UNI