Sayeed ignored sex scandal when in power: Omar

"Sayeed preferred that this scandal should go on and never bothered how callously daughters of Kashmir were being exploited by his own people. He should have resigned at that very time if he would have been real son of soil but he preferred to shut his eyes," an angry Omar said while addressing supporters at his Gupkar Road residence here.

The state assembly witnessed high drama after PDP deputy leader Muzaffar Hussain Beigh alleged that Omar's name figured in the sex scandal case. PDP has demanded a judicial inquiry in the case, saying that it was not satisfied with the CBI probe.

Omar, who has given a conditional resignation to the state Governor after the accusation, said Sayeed was "scared" that his government would fall as his own men were also "involved" in the scam which came to light during 2006 after the arrest of a woman.

"Sex scandal came to the notice of Sayeed when he was the Chief Minister. His own people and his close associates were actually involved in the scandal because of which he felt that his government will fall," he alleged.

Omar appreciated the role of former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who handed over investigations in the case to the CBI.

"Sayeed in his capacity as Home Minister at the Centre selected Jagmohan as Governor and succeeded in his mission to impose AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) in the state," Omar alleged, adding it was because of these issues that his father Farooq
Abdullah had to resign from the Chief Minister's post in 1990.

"When PDP ruled the state there was no talk about withdrawal of AFSPA. But today when my government is actually making efforts for its removal, that party is sabotaging the process by directly or indirectly fomenting violence," he said.

Omar asked both Sayeed and his daughter Mehbooba Mufti to be patient and wait for six years to face people in the next elections.

"During the last six years, we have played responsible role of opposition. We never snatched any mike from the Speaker's podium and allowed the government to run their business in the House. But now PDP has crossed all limits by stooping to a level which has no parallel in political ethics," he said.

He said it is first time that such a massive financial support has come from the Centre under plan funds. Apart from Rs 5,500 crore being earmarked for the state from plan outlay another Rs 1,200 crore package has been sanctioned under Prime Minister Reconstruction Plan, he said.