J&K Cricket Association scam: ED grills fmr CM Farooq Abdullah for 7 hrs

at 6:41 pm
File photo: National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): National Conference President and former J&K Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah was today questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Srinagar for seven hours in connection with the multi-crore Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association scam.

Speaking to reporters outside the ED office in Srinagar, Abdullah said ED is doing its job and he will do his own.

“I am quite clear. I will always face them,” the NC chief told media. “My fate will be decided by the court when ED would put the case into the court. I couldn’t have lunch today. There was no time for it,” he said.

Asked whether he was summoned because of the formation of Peoples’ Alliance for the Gupkar declaration, Abdullah said, “don’t bring the Gupkar declaration into this.”

On whether the questioning was regarding J&K Cricket Association scam, he said: “Apko kya chati padi hai (Why are you bothered?) Ask them (ED).”

Replying to a query whether ED’s summon and his questioning for seven long hours would weaken his resolve for a fight seeking restoration of Article 370, Abdullah said that it wasn’t his resolve alone. “This is the resolve of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. This will continue whether Farooq Abdullah is dead or alive.

To a query that his son Omar Abdullah and PDP chief had termed the ED summon to him as political vendetta, he said: “I have nothing to say on that.”

The NC chief was summoned today by ED at 11 am. He was let go at 5 pm after facing seven hours of questioning. The NC president, however, said ED sleuths were “nice sober and friendly to him.”

-ARK