J&K: Omar accuses Mehbooba of levelling false charges on NC govt

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah accused PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday of levelling false and baseless allegations against his government, alleging that she wants to divert people's attention from her party's ''help'' to the BJP in winning a Rajya Sabha seat from the Union Territory last year. ''I was listening to her speech yesterday in which she claimed that an officer was asked for a bribe for a transfer. She also claimed that there was no inquiry because the person who had sought the money was a minister. Madam, please tell me which minister is the treasurer of the National Conference? As far as I know, the treasurer of the NC is Member of Parliament Shammi Oberoi. So far, Oberoi is neither a minister in Jammu and Kashmir nor at the Centre,'' Abdullah told reporters in Ganderbal. He was responding to a question on Mufti's charge that a minister had asked an officer for a bribe of Rs 30 lakh for a posting of his choice. ''If you have to lie, please do some homework and learn first. At least, make it difficult for us to catch the lie, but your lies are caught in seconds. All this is being done to divert the attention of the people from the Rajya Sabha election as (an) RTI (reply) has proved that the PDP had helped the BJP. Mehbooba Mufti is silent on that issue. Why did she not appoint an agent or an observer?'' Abdullah asked. On the allegation that the NC government in Jammu and Kashmir has resorted to backdoor appointments, the chief minister said he is ''tired of teaching'' PDP leaders. ''Name one place where backdoor appointment has taken place. Outsourcing is not backdoor appointment. How much do I need to teach the PDP people? I am tired of teaching them now. Urdu they do not know, English they do not understand. Do you explain to them in French?'' he asked. Abdullah said there is a vast difference between backdoor appointments and outsourcing jobs. ''We are providing jobs (on regular government rolls) and we outsource only where a scheme's requirement necessitates it. The PDP is making baseless allegations against us to hide its own sins. First they tried to use Urdu, it failed. Now, they have raised backdoor appointments, that has also failed,'' he said. Asked about the demand for a ban on alcohol in Jammu and Kashmir, the chief minister said his government is not forcing anyone to drink. ''Is anyone forcing them to drink? You are going to (a wine) shop out of your own will. Why are you going there? We are not dragging you there. We are not advertising it,'' he said.

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