Mufti equally responsible for militancy in J

Jammu, Feb 28 (UNI) Shielding his father Farooq Abdullah, National Conference president Omar Abdullah today alleged that PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was equally responsible for the rise of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing newspersons here this evening, the NC president, countered the allegations of Mr Sayeed that National Conference patron and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah was responsible for supporting militancy here. ''If Mr Mufti is raising finger at my father that he is responsible for militancy in the state then I think Mr Mufti is equally responsible for the disaster in the state.'' Mr Mufti played a vital role in giving an impetus to the militancy, he said, adding the PDP patron was responsible for the eruption of militancy and bloodshed in the state. As many as 11 cases of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) were filed in the High Court regarding 1987 polls against Dr Abdullah but none was proved, he added.

''Fingers were raised on Dr Farooq that he had thoroughly supported the Assembly elections in 1987 and involved in rigging, which was one of the major reasons of beginning of militancy in the valley. But, despite the number of PILs filed, nothing was proved on the ground and even Election Commission has given a clean chit,'' the NC president said.

He alleged Mr Sayeed was responsible for Human Rights abuses and killings in the state. ''The PDP is talking of revoking AFSPA and de-militarisation but it was Mr Sayeed who as Union Home Minister, during VP Singh''s regime, had given free hand to the security forces.'' The press meet was invited to brief the resolutions passed by the National Conference during three-day Committee meeting of in which former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination was condoled while economic and political resolutions were discussed.

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