The Hindu : National : PDP indulging in horse-trading, says Omar

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Wednesday, Aug 18, 2004

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National

PDP indulging in horse-trading, says Omar

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, AUG. 17. The National Conference (NC) president, Omar Abdullah, today accused the coalition Government, headed by the People's Democratic Party (PDP), of indulging in horse-trading by wooing the NC members in the Legislative Council to defeat the no-confidence motion moved by his party against the Legislative Council chairman, Abdur Rasheed Dar.

He said that in case the Government failed to bring the Permanent Resident (Disqualification) Bill back to the Assembly in its original form, the NC would do the same in the shape of a private member's bill.

A day before the session of both the Council and the Assembly is scheduled to begin here tomorrow, Mr. Abdullah told a news conference that the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, his Ministers and officers from his Secretariat were doing everything to woo "our MLCs and ensure that our motion is defeated." The NC has moved a no confidence motion against Mr. Dar that is likely to be taken up during the brief session.

He alleged that out of 14 MLCs of the NC, only two have not been approached by the PDP so far. "They have even been offered money ranging from Rs. 25 lakhs to Rs. 30 lakhs, but my members have refused."

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