Former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday accused the PDP-BJP dispensation of “brazenly spying on him” after a reporter was allegedly quizzed by a police sleuth at the entrance of his fortified Gupkar Road residence.
While the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) rubbished the accusation as Abdullah’s attempt to seek media publicity, the State police tacitly acknowledged that procedures and protocols laid down in the Blue book were being followed.
“Mufti Govt brazenly spying on me. A journalist interviewing me for a national daily just got stopped right outside my gate by CID person,” Abdullah wrote on microblogging site Twitter on Friday afternoon to create ripples. He said the journalist (Srinagar bureau head of a national daily) was asked about her identity and the purpose of her visit. “Seriously guys if you want to know just ask me, I couldn’t care less if you do,” Abdullah said in a series of tweets. In line with his previous tweets directly addressing Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, Abdullah said, “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!”
Interestingly, Mufti has not responded to Abdullah’s tweets. The PDP fielded Media Analyst in CM’s office Waheed Parra to respond to Abdullah. “It was not a cop who had questioned the journalist outside the residence of Omar Abdullah. A National Conference worker was denied entry to Omar’s residence who had asked a few questions to the lady,” Parra claimed.
Parra, however, admitted that being a protected person in z-plus category, routine surveillance was maintained at Abdullah’s residence. Omar described this as the Government’s admission to his spying charge.