Farooq Abdullah vows to fight legal battle
ABDULLAH’S PRESS CONFERENCE COMES A DAY AFTER ANSARI WON THE JKCA POLLS BY BAGGING 44 VOTES OUT OF 64
SRINAGAR: Former chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday lodged a police complaint over the takeover of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) by state sports minister Imran Raza Ansari. Both claimed to be president of the association.
“Initially, the police at Ram Munshi Bagh refused to lodge an FIR. They think they will do gunda raj. I will fight them legally,” said Abdullah in a press conference held from the building of the JKCA in Srinagar. Abdullah’s supporters broke the locks to enter the premises. Abdullah’s press conference comes a day after Ansari won the JKCA polls by bagging 44 out of 64 votes. The polls were held after members rebelled against Abdullah. Ansari assumed the office on Monday only when he along with other office bearers opened bank accounts. He claimed the excise magistrate who issued the stay order does not have jurisdiction to do so. The court had put the new body into abeyance. “They (Ansari and his group) came over and broke locks even when there was a court order,” said Abdullah.
He alleged that some people are afraid that their names will emerge in the ongoing investigations in the multi-crore JKCA scam that surfaced in 2012.
“They are afraid their names will emerge as the process is gaining momentum in the court. To scuttle that they thought the best process is to take over JKCA. But Abdullah is here to protect JKCA,” he added.
He claimed he worked hard for the association and provided funds to maintain grounds. “Is Farooq Abdullah a thief ? Prove it,” he retorted. “It is said the committee was defunct. But how would our boys reach to such glory in Mumbai. We had 180 matches for juniors and 175 for seniors so far,” said Abdullah, who claimed his term still has two years. Training guns at chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, National Conference president said, “I am sorry to tell Mufti sahib that this is not what we expected of him. We thought he will do developmental work... situation is not under control. I hope it does not go out of control,” he warned. On the contrary, Ansari, a junior PDP minister, claimed his election process was legal and he has taken over the association.
“According to the rule book of JKCA constitution, in absence of association president, chairman or vice-chairman can hold a meeting regarding any decision and the majority vote of the association members shall take the final decision,” said Ansari. He alleged the JKCA performance was poor during the Farooq’s tenure.