Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone on Monday claimed that Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) president Er. Rashid is “New Delhi’s remote- controlled toy” out to “silence” Kashmiris.
Addressing a news conference, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Lone said that Er. Rashid’s release is part of BJP’s plan. “I have never called anyone as an agent. He should tell where he was for the past two months. He was not in jail. We have never seen such a badly executed plan of New Delhi in Kashmir from 1947,” he said.
Sajad Lone said that Rashid has no authority to criticize him. “Who is he to target me? He is himself in the dock,” Sajad replied to a question on his criticism by Rashid.
Lone said that Rashid has been released to humiliate and browbeat Kashmiris. “He is behaving like a hooligan released to silence those who talk,” he said.
Lone said that Rashid was using filthy and abusive language against female politicians.
Lone also said that Rashid’s brother met him to offer support to him in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in lieu of support to them in Langate assembly seat.
Lone said Rashid himself talked with him over phone from Tihar jail to prevent election of PC leader Irfan Panditpuri as chairperson of DDC Kupwara.
“His told me over phone of his brother that he will join PC on the condition that you shouldn’t appoint Panditpuri as chairperson of district development council (DDC) Kupwara,” he said.
Without naming anyone, Lone said some governmental and non- governmental agencies are trying to pressurise them to give safe passage to a candidate in one of the assembly segments of Kupwara district.
“They shouldn’t waste their time. There is no question of giving safe passage to anyone. We are not scared and we won’t be scared,” Lone said—(KNO)