PDP rejects Omar Abdullah's allegation of spying

The ruling People’s Democratic Party on Friday rejected the allegation of former chief minister Omar Abdullah about spying on him, saying it was not a cop but a disgruntled National Conference worker who had accosted the journalist outside his residence.

The ruling party said Abdullah is levelling the allegation just to "make news" and hit back at him by charging his previous government of spying on PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and other leaders.

Abdullah, leader of opposition National Conference, on Friday alleged, “Mufti Govt brazenly spying on me. A journalist interviewing me for a national daily just got stopped right outside my gate by CID person.”

Rejecting the charge, PDP spokesman Waheedur Rehmaan Parra 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.”

He said the PDP-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition government does not waste "a second" on thinking about what the opposition National Conference working president was doing.

“We do not even spend a second about what he is doing. He has made this unfortunate statement as he only wants to make news... He (Abdullah) tweets and that is what he did during his six years (as chief minister),” said Parra, who is also political analyst to Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

Parra levelled counter allegations, saying during Omar Abdullah's tenure, he used to spy on Mehbooba Mufti and other party leaders.

"He used to spy on PDP president and other leaders of our party. We know what he does," he added.

Parra said it was unfortunate that Omar, who has been a chief minister and the home minister, should make such a statement.