The Centre on Sunday steered clear of the row surrounding the alleged spying on Omar Abdullah, with Union minister Jitendra Singh saying that it is “something between him and the state government”
Omar had on Sunday accused the JK government of “brazenly” spying on him, a charge rejected by the ruling PDP.
Singh, MoS in the PMO, told reporters, “He (Omar) has blamed the state government and not the
Centre. The Centre has nothing to do with it. It is something between him and the state government.”
He was here to attend a ‘meet the press’ function organised by the Press Club Jammu.
Omar had alleged that a CID person was posted outside his residence to keep a watch on people coming and going out.
“Mufti government brazenly spying on me. A journalist interviewing me for a national daily just got stopped right outside my gate by CID person,” he had tweeted. “She (journalist) was asked who she was and what the purpose of her visit was! Seriously guys if you want to know just ask me, I couldn’t care less if you do,” he added.
Addressing Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Omar wrote on the micro-blogging site, “Dear Mufti Sb, if you and your apparatchiks want to know what I’m up to pick up the phone and ask me. Please don’t accost people outside my gate!” PDP had rejected the accusation, saying Abdullah was leveling the allegation just to “make news”, and hit back by charging him of spying on PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and other leaders when he was the Chief Minister.
Waheedur <g data-gr-id="27">Rehmaan</g> Parra, PDP leader and political advisor to the Chief Minister, said, “It was not a cop who had questioned the journalist outside the residence of Omar Abdullah.
“It was a National Conference worker who was denied entry to Omar’s residence who had asked a few questions to the lady.”
MoS Jitendra bats for Dogra certificates for Jammu youth
Union Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh on Sunday urged the J&K government to bring out a legislation to revive the Dogra certificate and issue the same to youths who are willing to join defense services from the region.
“The Dogra certificate was there for long and it helped the youth of the region to get accommodated in the defense services. But the Congress government diluted the certificate in the name of equality between the two regions, but it helped nobody,” he told reporters.
Speaking at a function organised by the Jammu Press Club, Singh appealed all political parties, including Congress to come onboard and help restore the Dogra certificate to the youth of the Jammu region.
“There are many other places in the country where the youth get certain certificates which help them get relaxation in joining the defense services.
“Dogra certificate does not have anything based on religion. Its issuance is based on the demographic and scientific reasons, so it should be restored by the state government”, he said.