Srinagar: 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 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.
Lone said that Rashid has no authority to criticize him. “Who is he to target me? He is himself in the dock,” Lone 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.
“I have lots of disagreements with Mehbooba Ji but would never tolerate derogatory remarks about her as made by Rashid Sheikh. It seems a Gunda has been released to humiliate those who talk about Kashmir and Kashmiris,” Lone said.
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 the Langate assembly seat.
Lone also said Rashid himself talked with him over phone from Tihar jail to prevent election of PC leader Irfan Panditpuri as chairperson of DDC Kupwara.
“He told me over phone of his brother that he will join PC on the condition that you (Sajad Lone) shouldn’t appoint Panditpuri as chairperson of district development council (DDC) Kupwara,” Lone 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.
