Srinagar, Oct 12: Opposition Peoples Democratic Party Monday dragged the Congress General Secretary, Rahul Gandhi, in the row over the alleged custodial death of National Conference worker, Syed Muhammad Yusuf, saying the deceased had shared podium with him.
 “How many activists have toured with Omar Abdullah in a helicopter? Many veteran leaders find it difficult to be on the podium with the Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi but Yousuf was easily allowed by the NC leaders,” Mehbooba said before flagging off a protest rally against “growing corruption” in the National Conference-Congress government, from the party headquarters. 
 Claiming that Yusuf was “like a family member” to the Abdullah family, Mehbooba alleged that he acting as a “broker” for NC.
 “How can they deny that he was close to the NC family? In fact he was like a family member to them. The relationship between Yusuf and the Abdullah family was that he played the role of a broker who used to get money for the NC leaders. The rates were fixed as 50 lakh for an MLC, Rs one crore for a minister,” She alleged.
 Taking a dig at the government, Mehbooba said the Srinagar district has been deprived of development. “Srinagar is the most neglected place despite the fact that all MLAs from the district belong to National Conference,” she said.
 Later, the women party workers of PDP led by Asiya Naqash, amid anti-government slogans, marched towards the city Centre Lal Chowk to protest against “rampant corruption” in the state government. The protest dispersed peacefully after intervention by police.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:30:00 GMT
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