The ED transfer in opposition to Farooq Abdullah is “nothing but a witch-hunt”, his occasion has stated
Srinagar:
Senior politician Farooq Abdullah, 82, questioned immediately for almost seven hours by the Enforcement Directorate in reference to alleged irregularities within the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association, issued a spirited assertion to the press within the night, declaring: “I am not worried, why are you worried? The only regret I have is that I could not have my lunch”.
Mr Abdullah additionally reiterated his occasion’s stand on the Article 370 challenge – his National Conference and different J&Okay events referred to as the summons “political vendetta” and identified that it got here after the Gupkar Declaration – saying the “struggle will go on whether Farooq Abdullah is alive or dead”.
“You (the press) have asked whatever you had to. You only want stories… not bothered by anything else. They (the investigating agency) have their job to do. I have my job to do. There’s nothing else to say,” Mr Abdullah instructed reporters exterior the company’s workplace in Srinagar.
The National Conference stated in an announcement issued earlier that Mr Abdullah maintains his innocence within the matter and can cooperate in what’s “nothing but a witch-hunt”. According to information company PTI, Mr Abdullah stated the ED solely had follow-up questions after a session final 12 months.
“I am not worried, why are you worried? The only regret I have is that I could not have my lunch,” he stated when requested if he was involved in regards to the inquiry.
Mr Abdullah additionally performed down “political vendetta” feedback – additionally made by his son Omar Abdullah. “Not for me to decide. The court will decide,” he stated.
However, Mr Abdullah – one in every of a whole bunch of political leaders detained by the centre hours earlier than it moved to finish particular standing below Article 370 final August – stated his questioning would change nothing.
“Our struggle will go on whether Farooq Abdullah is alive or dead. Our resolve has not changed and will not change even if I were to be hanged. It is not Farooq Abdullah or the National Conference’s struggle alone. It is the struggle of all the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Omar Abdullah tweeted an extended assertion this night, by which the People’s Alliance – the end result of the Gupkar Declaration – hit out on the centre over “vindictive politics… to kill dissent and disagreement across the country”.
“… the central government, unnerved by the unity amongst the people… to pursue the goals of the Gupkar Declaration… is resorting to a game of witch-hunt and suppression,” the assertion stated.
The authentic Gupkar Declaration (the second was signed on Thursday) was signed August four final 12 months after an all-party assembly at Farooq Abdullah’s Gupkar Road dwelling in Srinagar.
Regional events and the Congress resolved to guard J&K’s particular constitutional standing and battle in opposition to any transfer to dilute it. A day later the centre enforced its large Article 370 resolution.
Mr Abdullah and three others are named in a 2018 cost sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation that claims misappropriation of Rs 43.69 crore from the J&Okay cricket physique between 2002 and 2011. He was summoned immediately – not by the CBI however the ED, which investigates large-scale monetary crimes and is probing allegations of cash laundering in the identical case.
With enter from PTI
