Farooq Abdullah summoned by ED, party attacks BJP: 'Price opposition pays…'

Farooq Abdullah has been summoned next week by the Enforcement Directorate over a money laundering case.

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate for questioning in a money laundering case next week. Soon after the May 31 summon was issued, his party, the National Conference, reacted sharply, and slammed the BJP, saying that it was a price the opposition paid. Farooq Abdullah has also served as the union minister.

File photo: Enforcement Directorate issued summons to National Conference President Farooq Abdullah asking him to appear before the investigators at its headquarters in Delhi.  (PTI)

“Every time elections are expected to be announced in any state, the investigative agencies move in first to clear the path for the BJP. This appears to be the case this time as well and this is the price opposition parties pay for opposing this government,” National Conference spokesperson Imran Dar said in a statement on Friday afternoon.

“Dr Abdullah has continued to maintain his innocence in the matter and has cooperated with the investigative agencies and will do so in this case as well. It’s also not a coincidence that the only leaders targeted in J&K belong to the PAGD (People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration) alliance parties,” he said.

The 84-year-old veteran politician has been asked to come for questioning to Chandigarh on May 31. Earlier, in 2020, he was questioned in the case at his J&K home.

The PAGD is a seven-party alliance that was formed after the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was scrapped.

Recently, the parties had objected to the redrawing of the electoral map of the union territory.