Raja Syed Rather
Srinagar, Aug 29: National Conference (NC) Vice President and former chief minister of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State, Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that the court would not listen to the statement of National Investigation Agency (NIA) with regard to the bail plea of jailed incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) from Baramulla, Engineer Abdul Rashid Sheikh.
While reacting to the query over bail plea of Er Rashid, Omar in Ganderbal said that the court has reserved its decision till September 04 and according to his knowledge, the court is not going to listen to the NIA.
“Any news from Delhi cannot remain secret for a long time. So, according to my knowledge, the court is not going to listen to the NIA,” Omar said, adding that let’s wait till September 04 and it will have to be seen whether there will be any conditions from the court while granting bail to Er Rashid.
“The decision of granting bail is not taken by the people by casting votes, it has to be taken by the court itself. The ED was also reluctant to revoke the case against Dr Farooq Abdullah, but the court had given its verdict and it was followed,” Omar added.
Meanwhile, Omar also said that he has never taken any elections for granted and that the assembly here will be strengthened through these polls only.
Omar said that there was a dire need to forge an alliance for Pir Panjal areas to defeat BJP from maximum seats.
On being asked about change in his stance related to participating in elections, Omar said those who have been accusing him of giving away with the principals, have fielded their relatives and kins for the assembly polls.
He added that he believes the present assembly is not so strong as it was, but it can be strengthened through these elections only.
Omar said he has never taken any elections for granted, especially after the defeat in recently conducted Lok Sabha polls from the north Kashmir seat. “No election is easy. To contest the polls is always challenging,” he said when asked about the contest from Ganderbal between him and PDP candidate Bashir Ahmad Mir.
