Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, July 20: Amid a political row and high drama, Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) today voted out former Chief Minister and National Conference leader, Dr Farooq Abdullah, as its president after 35 years, in polls that were marred by controversy as a local court stayed them.
The Sports Minister in Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Cabinet, Imran Raza Ansari, is the new president of the Association that was in news for last few years for financial irregularities. Dr Abdullah was president of the sports body since 1980 when he was elected as president for the first time.
Out of 64 cricket clubs in the State affiliated to the JKCA, 42 took part in internal elections that were held in the morning here at SK Cricket Stadium. Besides Ansari, Mehboob Iqbal is the new chairman, Iqbal Shah the general secretary and Abdul Rouf the treasurer, Mohammad Ashraf joint secretary while Javed Kitab vice chairman. The elections were held in presence of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Dr Asgar Samoon.
A local court, however, stayed the polls and as per its direction Dr Abdullah continues to be the president of the Association.
Special Mobile Magistrate Excise Amarjeet Singh Langeh today in an application filed by Arvinder Singh Micky Chairman JKCA seeking stay the operation of notice issued by Vice Chairman JKCA for holding a meeting issued notice to the respondents and observed that according to rule it is only General Secretary who is required to apprise concerned members about any proposed meeting of working committee and ordered that operation of notice dated July 9, 2015 (whereby a working committee meeting was called) issued by Vice President JKCA is stayed.
Court further ordered that in case working committee is held pursuant to notice dated July 9, 2015 before communication of the order to non-applicants, in that eventuality decision if any taken in meeting shall also be kept in abeyance till next date of hearing and is subject to objections from the respondents.
Dr Abdullah strongly reacted to the holding of elections and declared them as illegal and invalid. “No it is not valid. It is against the constitution of JKCA. You should read that. This is totally illegal. The committee has elected us for three years. My tenure ends after two years. They have no right to do this thing. We have already got a stay from Jammu for this meeting. Therefore it is against the violation of court order”, he said.
When asked will he approach Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the NC leader said: “I have just come yesterday and I have heard of this development. I will talk to them (BCCI) and tomorrow I will go to Delhi.”
On Ansari’s statement that law demands the elections should be held yearly, Dr Abdullah said: “They should read the law which has changed (annual by election law) and I am disappointed that Imran Ansari is doing this as he is the son of my dear friend (Late Iftikhar Ansari) and in this way he is breaking the Association which is very wrong.”
When asked are the elections politically motivated, the NC leader said: “This is being done by the PDP whose motive is divide and rule. You are seeing the situation (division) of Jammu and Kashmir. They want same to do with association. I am extremely disappointed because in 2003, they tried hard to do the same. They didn’t succeed and neither would they succeed today.”
Dr Abdullah alleged that Government is stooping to a new low by this act and instead of looking into problems of people, they are creating trouble. “The Government has stooped to new low. Instead of looking into the problems of people, it is creating new problems and I am only disappointed over this.”
The NC leader said that this was done to clear the names of the people who are involved in the scam. “A case is in the court over the scam and their names would be clear and many among them are those who have embezzled money. They are afraid of its surfacing. And you keep on looking what comes out ahead. There is a court case and let them fight it out.”
Dr Abdullah said that he will not be cowed by the PDP’s act and will “fight them to their grave”. “Sir, I will go and throw them out. Farooq Abdullah is not a tiny figure that is going to bend down by PDP. I am Sher-e-Kashmir’s son and I will fight them to their grave.”
The NC leader said that PDP is taking revenge. “They (PDP) want to do these things instead of worrying for people who have suffered. They are taking these revenges. What for? What has Ansari to do with it?”
Dr Abdullah said that they want the cricket to suffer. “They want the cricket to suffer in the same manner. So our boys don’t get opportunities of facing the rest of the country”, he added.
When asked about the BCCI intervention into JKCA crisis, the NC leader said: “Why should BCCI intervene? It is our problem. This is our domestic issue. Why should we bring in some outsider for resolving our issue? When we don’t want India and Pakistan’s resolution from outside (third party intervention), then why should we get anyone from outside?”
In the meantime, terming the JKCA elections as properly democratic, Ansari, said the court stay order can’t affect his election as head of the local cricket body. “‘I assumed office today only soon after I was elected as JKCA’s president.”
The PDP leader said the Excise Magistrate stayed the elections on a plea by former vice-president of JKCA Arvinder Singh Micky, and “the order can’t affect our work.” “The stay order copy has not reached to us, and we are not aware of it,” he said.
Ansari said the JKCA elections happened as per schedule and the former president Dr Farooq Abdullah was duly informed about the elections about one and half a month before.
“We also wrote letter to him and asked him to participate in the elections of the association. But he chooses not to participate. The election happened in a proper democratic process in which 44 members participated and unanimously elected me as the president. Those who term the elections as undemocratic are only making wrong statements,” the Minister said.
On multi-crore scam in JKCA, Ansari said the matter is sub-judice, “but it will not hamper our work.”
The Minister said that his priority as president of JKCA would be overhauling the association which has suffered hugely in past many decades because of corruption and ill-administration.
“Development of cricketing infrastructure in the State will be my top priority, besides launching a massive talent hunt across the State to pick up talented youth who will be professionally trained so that they will represent the State at national and international levels,” Ansari said.
The Minister said that demand of people to make JKCA corruption free will be fulfilled. He said that State Sports Council will construct cricket sports stadiums in all districts to give boost to the cricketing talent. “I will honestly try to work towards the goal,” he said.
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