Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party MP Tariq Hameed Karra today threatened to file a defamation suit against spokesperson of the ruling National Conference (NC) Junaid Azim Mattu for making “fictitious and unsubstantiated accusations” against him.
“I have decided to file a case of defamation against Mattu and seek damages to the tune of Rs 50 crore for making fictitious and unsubstantiated accusations against me,” Karra said in a statement here.
Mattu had said that Karra grabbed hundreds of kanals of custodian land and land belonging to the locals worth millions of rupees in Shivpora locality of Srinagar through the use of “muscle and money”.
Karra said the NC spokesman shall have to prove his “wild allegations” in the court of law or pay Rs 50 crore for the damage caused to his reputation by the “malicious and slanderous” accusations.
Mattu had also reportedly lashed out at Karra for “absconding from his duties” as an elected Member of Parliament from Srinagar when the city was submerged in flood.
“Where was Tariq Karra during the floods? It was his duty as the MP for Srinagar to coordinate the relief and rescue operations but just like PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, PDP MP from Srinagar Tariq Karra also deserted Srinagar during the darkest hours of the natural calamity,” the NC spokesman had said.
Karra said while his own house was submerged in Shivpora area and he had to relocate his residence on the outskirts of Srinagar, he continued to visit the flood-affected areas and brought to light the pilferage of thousands of tonnes of rations by NC functionaries during his visit to FCI godowns at Lethpora and Budgam.
Karra said having been “rejected” by the people and sensing complete rout in the ongoing polls, the NC has now “stooped too low in frustration” that its only agenda is “character assassination” of its political opponents.
