People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti's reported `praise’ for Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi has snowballed into a major controversy in the strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir.
Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj had dropped a bombshell on Monday when she claimed that Mehbooba praised Modi during recent NIC meeting in Delhi.
"Even rivals like PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti have praised Modi in front of everyone at NIC meeting. A Muslim friend of Mehbooba wanted to invest in Gujarat and was surprised to be granted an appointment to meet Modi in half an hour", Swaraj said in her speech during Modi's Sadbhavana fast.
The statement has become a political hot potato in Jammu and Kashmir with chief minister Omar Abdullah leading the charge to lambast his arch political rival and the leader of opposition in the state assembly.
“I am not surprised Mehbooba praised Modi, she can praise who ever she likes; I am surprised she would deny it knowing others heard her speech”, Omar tweeted.
Mehbooba was quick to hit back at Swaraj saying she was misquoted and asked the Centre to release the text of her speech to clear the air. “I don’t know why I was misquoted. I have now requested the Centre to release text of my speech and let the people judge. And if it warrants a written request I would write a letter to Centre asking for release of my speech text”, she said.
It however failed to convince Omar who advised Mehbooba to gracefully accept the fact rather denying it outright.. “Why can't she just admit what she said rather than deny the whole thing. So much more graceful to accept rather than call Ms Swaraj a liar”, the chief minister said
Peeved PDP president minced no words in launching frontal attack on Omar saying it was his father Farooq Abdullah who supported Modi during anti-Muslim riots.
“Just recently Farooq praised Modi and even went to the extent that the holy Quran was received from some other person (the statement he denied later). Omar himself was a minister in the NDA when anti Muslim riots happened”, she said.
It may be recalled that despite growing demands for Omar’s resignation for being a Muslim face in the council of ministers; he decided to stay in the NDA government during Gujarat riots. The decision cost him dearly and his party was defeated in the assembly elections of Jammu and Kashmir in 2002.
“Have never denied being a part of the NDA Ms Mufti but I have also said it was a mistake I regret and will never repeat nor let my party repeat. At least I have had the guts to admit our mistake, why don't you have the guts to admit what everyone heard you say - your praise for Modi," Omar said
Omar also invoked Parliament resolution saying the records will prove how he voted despite being the minister. “Lest I forget Ms. Mufti - the record in Parliament will show how I voted on the resolution about Gujarat riots even though I was a minister," he said
