Will not acknowledge NIA action unless it produces results: Farooq Abdullah

Former Chief Minister and president of the National Conference (NC) Farooq Abdullah on Friday said unless the NIA probe into terror funding brings out some result he would not acknowledge the actions taken by the agency.

Abdullah also said he had "no hopes" of anything emerging from Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's four-day visit to the state from Saturday.

"Unless the NIA investigation produces some results, I will not acknowledge it. If the NIA action is intended to create turbulence in Kashmir, then let me tell the Centre and the NIA that no torture would force the people of Kashmir to give up their ideals."

The NC president was speaking to media on the sidelines of a function to remember his father and NC founder, late Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah on his 35th death anniversary.

Abdullah said "nobody would bow down due to the torture of the NIA and the Government of India".

He alleged that the present NIA probe is being carried out only to "create turbulence" in Kashmir.

Asked what hopes the NC had of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's four-day visit to the state beginning on Saturday, Abdullah said, "I have no hope from this visit."

He said the separatists "must be released so that they can tell the Home Minister what they have to tell".

The NC president also said the NIA should probe the "money pumped into the state by the Government of India to weaken" the NC party.

Speaking in New Delhi, Rajnath Singh said the central government was ready to discuss the Kashmir issue with all stakeholders in the state.

"I personally want that we talk to everyone. So whoever comes to meet me, I will talk to them," Singh told reporters, ahead of his visit.

Singh, who will be accompanied by newly-appointed Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and senior ministry officials, said the government has "all the intentions" to solve the Kashmir issue.

He alleged that senior journalist Gauri Lankesh was killed because she wrote about how the RSS was weakening the country.

Late Sheikh Abdullah passed away on this day in 1982 and lakhs of weeping and wailing Kashmiris had participated in his funeral procession.

--IANS

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