HEADLINES POLL ARCHIVES FEEDBACK SEARCH REDIFF NEWSLINKS US EDITION NEWS DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ARCHIVES
Onkar Singh in Jammu
Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party chairman Mufti Mohammed Sayeed on Monday denied Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah's allegations that his party was organising attacks on the candidate of the ruling National Conference, Sakina Itoo.
"I flatly deny the allegations. On the contrary, terrorists attacked three of our party candidates during the poll campaign. It is the duty of the chief minister to provide security cover to the contesting candidates," he said at a press conference in Jammu.
Sayeed said the National conference would be routed during the polls and the PDP would emerge as the single largest party.
"We have fielded 62 candidates in all the regions of the state. We will do well in the ensuing polls," he said.
Asked if he was the PDP's chief ministerial candidate, Sayeed said a decision on this matter would be taken by his party's elected legislators.
He ruled out the candidature of his daughter Mehbooba Mufti for the top post. "No, she is not a candidate for chief ministership," he said.
He did not agree with the assessment of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Rajnath Singh that the polls would throw up a mixed verdict.
"I do not agree with his assessment. In my opinion the people would give a clear verdict. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are disillusioned with the National Conference misrule and they have made up their mind to change the government in the state," he said.
Sayeed denied that he was responsible for giving terrorism a new lease of life in Jammu and Kashmir by ordering the release of five militants in exchange for his daughter Rubiya Sayeed, who had been abducted. He was the Union home minister in the Vishwanath Pratap Singh government at that time.
"It is wrong to say that exchange of five militants gave new lease of life to militancy. The turning point of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir was the release 150 hardcore militants by Farooq Abdullah," he alleged.
He also denied that his party had any understanding either with the Congress or the BJP.
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
