Srinagar, Feb 19 (KNO): As the war of words between the political heavyweights in Kashmir has intensified, the accusations and counter-accusations fly high after former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, along with his father Farooq Abdullah vehemently refuted the claims made by Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) president Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Former union minister and DPAP chief Ghulam Nabi Azad while speaking to a news channel accused the National Conference leaders of seeking “late-night meetings” with central ministers.
Farooq trains guns at Azad
National Conference patriarch Dr Farooq Abdullah has shot back at Ghulam Nahi Azad over his remarks that NC leadership was striving to meet Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah ahead of the forthcoming LS polls.
Farooq Abdullah as per the reports received by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) told reporters here that Azad should be cautious before levelling allegations against any political leader. NC president added that Azad must reveal who are his sources who tip him off often about who is meeting the country’s Prime Minister and Home Minister often in Delhi.
Dr Farooq said that though he holds immense respect for DPAP founder Azad but the remarks he has made against the National Conference leadership are condemnable and must be taken back by the former Congress veteran.
Dr Farooq added that it was him who played a significant role in securing Rajya Sabha seat for Azad back in the year 2014. “I was not keeping well. I was in England when Sonia Gandhi called me and offered me the Rajya Sabha seat. I politely declined the offer and cited health reasons. It was me at that time who suggested that the berth must go to Azad and even confabulated for it within the concerned quarters,” Dr Farooq claimed.
He said that Azad is now levelling baseless allegations against the national conference and that it is incongruous for the leader of his stature to stoop too low.
Omar Jumps into Chorus
Hitting back on Azad's statement, Omar Abdullah in response to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) while taking on to the social media, highlighted Azad's past requests for Rajya Sabha seats and questioned his credibility.
“Wah bhai wah Ghulam Nabi Azad, so much bile today. Where is the Ghulam that was begging us for Rajya Sabha seats in J&K as recently as 2015? “Abdullahs knew about 370” yet we were detained for more than 8 months including under PSA & you were free, the only ex CM in J&K free after 5th Aug,” Omar wrote on X.
Reacting to the Azad’s charges, Omar while questioning the accusations stated that let’s not forget the Padma award for which Azad agreed to leave Congress and help BJP in Chenab valley. Omar said that only time will decide who is Azad (Free) and who is Ghulam (Captive).
Meanwhile, in a fresh statement, Azad has clarified that he never claimed that the NC leaders met BJP leadership in Delhi. “I said that through sources in Delhi, it has come to fore that the NC leadership tried to meet BJP leaders during the night hours only. I never said that they met or got an appointment. The impression that they met each other is wrong”, he said—(KNO)