Farooq holds press conference at JKCA hqs, claims to have regained premises

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
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SRINAGAR, July 21: National Conference patron and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday held a news conference at headquarters of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) and claimed to have captured the premises back from the sports society's government-backed faction.

"We have taken this premises back into our possession as the court has put in abeyance the illegal election done by some dissidents yesterday. We are going to break their illegal locks and put our own locks on the doors (on the JKCA office)", Dr Abdullah asserted at a hurriedly called news conference before his departure for New Delhi.

At the press conference, JKCA staff installed back Dr Abdullah’s portrait as President. His supporters also shouted a couple of slogans in his favour. He was flanked by Arvinder Singh Micky, ML Nehru and Ghulam Mohammad Bhat who in 2014 had been elected Chairman, General Secretary and Treasurer, respectively, for a term of three years. JKCA's Chief Administrative Officer Saleem Khan was also present.

Dr Abdullah said that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s government had "enacted exactly what it had wrongfully done in 2003 to dislodge me as President".

He said that 12 years back Mufti had installed then Minister of Sports Haji Nisar Ali as President "through fraudulently held elections". "However, that time also we challenged it in the court. In 2007, Justice Bashir Ahmed Kirmani of Jammu and Kashmir High Court dismissed the government-sponsored elections as null and void and held that only the Preside could call elections through a notice to be issued only by General Secretary. Court held that the elections should be held essentially in presence of the President", Dr Abdullah said and recalled that those elections had not been recognised by BCCI either.

He asserted that the JKCA office bearers had been duly elected in 2014 for the current term of three years. "We have completed one year and we have still two years. So there was no question of holding a mid-term election", Dr Abdullah said while displaying a copy of the resolution of enhancement of the term from one to three years, moved by Working Committee and approved by General Council.

In Working Committee two each members represent 25 recognised cricket clubs and seven government-controlled institutions. General Council comprises of 5 nominees from each constituent and the same by constitution is authorised to take key decisions including enhancement of term. By way of an identical resolution in 1997, Dr Abdullah has been elected as lifelong member of JKCA, making the total number of WC members as 65.

Dr Abdullah said that on his direction, General Secretary Nehru had already called a Working Committee meeting to discuss certain issues. It will be held as per schedule on July 24. Later, Chairman Micky said that the WC meeting would take place at its notified venue if Hotel Grand Palace (Lalit) in Srinagar.

‘WE HELD 350 MATCHES, GOT BEST OF COACHES’

"A lot has been said about this body. It has been said the committee is defunct and its members are not working. If it's true, how have our boys won glory for the State in Mumbai? We have organised 180 junior level matches and 170 senior level matches. Our boys are doing well not only on national but also on international level. We have arranged the best available coaches, two each in Kashmir and Jammu, and are determined to engage more of the reputed and experienced coaches to train our boys", Dr Abdullah said.

He said that he called Education Minister (Naeem Akhtar) when it was brought to his notice that some Ministers were exerting pressure on the members to attend and vote for Imran Ansari. "He (Akhtar) assured me that he was not interfering with the JKCA affairs. But yesterday it became clear that they are all part and parcel of this fraud", Dr Abdullah added. He alleged that some JKCA members and vice president of Jammu wing had engineered the coup fearing punishment for their involvement in the fund scam.

‘FAROOQ ABDULLAH IS NOT A THIEF’

"They have done it when their names emerged in the fund scam. The process is rapidly going on in the court. They thought by capturing JKCA they can scuttle the legal process. But Farooq Abdullah is here to protect the JKCA. We will not allow it and will not be cowed down by their tactics. They said Farooq Abdullah is a thief. If Farooq Abdullah is thief, let them prove it. I haven't taken a penny. On the other hand, I gave money (from MPLAD) to JKCA for developing infrastructure and better facilities in two colleges of Kashmir. Everything will come out. Truth will prevail. Why are they not happy? What's the problem with them?" Dr Abdullah said.

He vowed to fight the rival group legally and politically. "We are not goondas. We will fight legally. We will not pick up guns and lathis", he asserted.

"I had not expected this from Mufti Sahab. We thought he would work for development and bring relief to the flood victims whose suffering is unabated. But now it is clear that the government is further dividing the people on regional and religious lines. Let me tell you the situation is not under control. I am afraid it shouldn't get out of hand. Instead of being channelized into right groups, the youth are getting more and more radicalised with virulent propaganda. There are magazines coming up with alternative propaganda. The government doesn't seem to be concerned about it. Instead they are indulging in this type of activities", Dr Abdullah said.

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