Srinagar, Aug 28: Three days after the Peoples Democratic Party accused him of receiving Rs 500 crore kickbacks in Rattle Power project, the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Saturday sent a legal notice to the opposition seeking an “open apology” from the party within a week and threatening a defamation suit of Rs 10 crore against two PDP members.
However the PDP said they have not received the notice and the party would consult the lawyers for counter legal action.
“Omar has sent a legal notice, settled by Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, a senior Advocate and former Additional Solicitor General of India, for defamation to PDP legislator Nizam-ud-din Bhat and party Spokesman Naeem Akhtar Andrabi for levelling baseless, fabricated, concocted, frivolous, false and defamatory allegations against his person in a bid to defame him and damage his reputation,” a statement issued by the official spokesman here this evening said.
The notice calls upon them (Bhat and Akthar) to “publicly apologize” and withdraw allegations made against Omar within seven days failing which “the chief minister would be constrained to commence legal proceedings against them which will include civil and criminal remedies.”
Pertinently, Singhvi is a senior Congress leader and a Rajya Sabha member.
On August 25, PDP legislator, Bhat had accused the chief minister of “gross corruption” and alleged that he has received Rs 500 crore kickbacks for allotting the Rattle Power project to a particular constructing agency.
In a scathing attack, the party had alleged that Omar was spending Rs 20 crore to construct his private residence at Gupkar here at the cost of the public exchequer. The party had even accused the chief minister of withdrawing Rs 26 crore from CM’s secret fund at one time.
“While every other work in Kashmir is on standstill for the last three months, construction of the Omar palace has been going on non-stop with the workers from outside the state lodged in the state guest house at the state expenses. Priceless antiques have been shifted from the state’s Toshkhana to the chief minister’s private residence,” Bhat had accused.
Senior PDP leader and former Law Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig said the party would contest the case. “Let him go to the court, we are ready to contest,” Baig told Greater Kashmir.
PDP chief spokesman Naeem Akhtar, however, said that he was yet to receive the notice. “We are yet to receive the notice. We will speak to the lawyers. But personally I take it as a good omen on the day of Badr. It is a classic case of might, power and force on one side and lack of worldly resources on the other,” PDP spokesman Naeem told Greater Kashmir.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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