PDP activists protest over Farooq's comment on power theft

Opposition PDP today took out a rally in protest against Union Minister Farooq Abdullah for his purported remarks on power theft in Jammu and Kashmir.

Several PDP activists, led by former employees' union leader turned politician Khursheed Aalam, took out a march from party headquarters at Polo View amid tight security arrangements to denounce Abdullah for his alleged comment.

They also burnt an effigy of the Union Minister at Regal Chowk after police stopped the rally from heading toward Lal Chowk in the city centre.

Before dispersing off peacefully, Aalam addressed the gathering and sought an apology from him.

The Union Minister yesterday refuted reports about his remark over power theft in the state, saying he was misquoted by the media.

"I am sad that I was misquoted by the media. I had spoken about power theft in the state," he had said.

"I had said that it is unfortunate that we buy power for nearly two-three thousand crore but we are not able to get that money back because there is a lot of pilferage of power. Many of our people are stealing power," he had alleged.

"It (pilferage of electricity) happens all over the country. Biggest transmission and distribution losses are in Jammu and Kashmir," he added.

Meanwhile, activists of Aam Aadmi Party also staged a protest in Lal Chowk and outside Gupkar residence of Abdullah against the purported remarks.

The AAP activists, led by party's candidate for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat Raja Muzaffar Bhat, later dispersed peacefully.

Bhat, an RTI activist and dentist by profession, along with a dozen activists staged a protest outside Press Enclave demanding an appology from Abdullah for his alleged comment.