BJP TO FILE DEFAMATION SUIT AGAINST MEHBOOBA MUFTI

JAMMU: The state BJP on Saturday evening said it will file a defamation suit against former CM and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, who claimed that BJP MLA Rajesh Gupta also supported Article 35-A in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing media here this evening, party’s chief spokesperson advocate Sunil Sethi said, “The party is concerned with unwarranted statement of former CM Mehbooba Mufti, who attributed Article 35- A to MLA Gagan Bhagat and also to MLA Rajesh Gupta saying that these two persons have supported 35-A.”

“So far, her statement against Gupta is concerned, it is absolutely false. The other day a news channel had clarified immediately after attributing it to party MLA Rajesh Gupta that he favoured 35-A. Now, Mehbooba Mufti’s statement on Gupta is defamation and will serve a notice to her and legal action will be taken.”

Sethi also said that the matter will be taken to the assembly speaker Dr Nirmal Singh and apprise him that a sitting MLA has levelled false allegations on another sitting MLA and hence he should take serious cognisance.

Gupta also expressed his regrets over the manner Mehbooba Mufti dragged his name.

“There was a namesake in the party in 2014 who had given a statement . Today he has no role. The news channel wrongly aired it but recanted it and apologised. I will file a defamation suit against Mehbooba for maligning my image. I am a true nationalist and cannot go against party lines,” he said.