M A I N   N E W S

Farooq threatens to quit NDA
PM to clear ‘misunderstanding’
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 26
Peeved over the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee’s remark during his August 15 speech that the elections in Jammu and Kashmir would now be free and fair, the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, said if the Centre continued to make such statements and had doubts “about my credentials, I have no right to be part of the NDA government.”

Dr Abdullah told newspersons that the last Assembly election held in Jammu and Kashmir in 1996 was under President’s rule and hence he was without power.

“Does the Prime Minister mean that the elections held under President’s rule were rigged? he asked.

“I am not a crook and it (Centre) is responsible for the 1996 Assembly elections,” he said, expressing dismay over the way Central leaders were pointing towards Jammu and Kashmir. “Let them look at other states and see whether the elections there are free and fair. It is unfair to keep on singling out Jammu and Kashmir.”

The Chief Minister opposed general amnesty to the security forces engaged in anti-insurgency operations.

LUCKNOW: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Sunday said he would try to clear the “misunderstanding” of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah though it was up to him to decide whether his National Conference (NC) wanted to remain with the NDA government at the Centre.

Addressing a press conference at Raj Bhavan here, Mr Vajpayee said he would talk to Dr Abdullah on Monday and clear the misunderstanding.