Swaraj's Claim Of Mufti Praising Modi Sparks Controversy

Wednesday, 21 September 2011, 00:45 IST
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Bangalore: BJP leader Sushma Swaraj's claim that PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had praised Narendra Modi today triggered a verbal duel between Mufti and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Mehbooba Mufti denied reports of her praise of Modi at a recent meeting of the National Integration Council in Delhi and said her remarks were quoted out of context. She asked the Centre to release the transcript of her speech to clear the misgivings. "The remarks associated with me that I have praised the Gujarat Chief Minister are incorrect. It is very unfortunate that Leader of the Opposition (Sushma Swaraj) has misquoted me," Mehbooba told reporters here. Swaraj had yesterday said in Ahmedabad that the PDP president has praised Modi's work ethics during the NIC meet. In Delhi, Home Secretary R K Singh told reporters that the proceedings of the NIC meeting will be circulated to all members. "We will examine it...NIC proceedings are distributed to members every time and we will do this time also," Singh said. Exploiting the opportunity, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah joined issues with her, saying he was surprised at Mehbooba's denial "knowing others heard her". "I am not surprised Mehbooba praised Modi, she can praise whoever she likes; I am surprised she would deny it knowing others heard her speech," Omar tweeted. Taking a dig at both the BJP and the ruling National Conference, Mehbooba said if BJP was so "desperate" it was better for them to quote their former ally Farooq Abdullah. "Their former ally Farooq Abdullah, who sees Allah in Modi's eyes and who is so fascinated by Modi that he even forgets Quran was revealed to Prophet and not someone else, is the best Muslim leader they should quote for praising Modi," Mufti said. Omar said, "Why can't she (Mufti) just admit what she said rather than deny the whole thing. So much more graceful to accept rather than call Ms Swaraj a liar". "At least her father had the sense not to deny calling Laloo, as Home Minister, to order Advani's release, he just did what Ostriches do," the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said. "Have never denied being a part of the NDA Ms Mufti but I have also said it was a mistake I regret and will never repeat nor let my party repeat. At least I have the guts to admit our mistake, why don't you have the guts to admit what everyone heard you say - your praise for Modi," he said, adding "Lest I forget Ms Mufti - the record in Parliament will show how I voted on the resolution about the Gujarat riots even though I was a minister". Meanwhile, Swaraj stood by her comments and said Mufti had aired her views in the presence of over a hundered people. "I only quoted what she spoke in the presence of over a hundred people in the afternoon session of the NIC meeting on 10th September," the BJP leader said on a micro-blogging website. "It was not a private conversation," she added. Swaraj said she had correctly quoted Mufti in Ahmedabad .
Source: PTI
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