‘When Kejriwal was given bail ..’: Omar Abdullah attacks BJP for ‘welcoming’ Rashid’s bail; BJP refutes claims

NEW DELHI: National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Wednesday accused the BJP of having an inconsistent stance on bail granted to political leaders, pointing out that the BJP “welcomed” bail granted to Awami Ittehad Party founder and MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid in a terror funding case while frowned upon court granting bail to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal during the Lok Sabha elections.
“When Kejriwal was given bail by the court during Lok Sabha elections, look at the reactions of BJP leaders who questioned the court order and even termed it as undemocratic but when Rashid is freed for a limited period, BJP people were first to welcome the court order,” the NC leader said.
Abdullah accused the BJP of supporting smaller groups and independent candidates with the intention of forming the next government in Jammu and Kashmir with their help.
“They are ready to form the government with the same people who are in jails for fighting against the country for the last 35 years, talking about merger of Kashmir with Pakistan. There are numerous independent candidates in the fray,” Abdullah said.
Abdullah also said that the NC has sacrificed thousands of workers’ lives for the nation over the past 35 years.
Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina however, said that an order asking the party workers in the valley to attend the welcome rally of Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid was “fake” and an act by “frustrated opposition”. He added that he has requested the Election Commission to register FIR in “the political fraud”.
Abdullah made the remarks at a campaign event backing Mehbooba Iqbal, the party’s nominee in Doda district’s Bhaderwah. The first round of the three-phase elections, scheduled for September 18, will include voting in Bhaderwah and 23 other assembly seats located throughout the Chenab valley and south Kashmir districts.