Srinagar, Oct 6 (PTI): Dubbing PDP demand for his resignation as a political stunt, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Thursday dismissed allegations of "political payoffs" against him and said truth will emerge in the judicial inquiry into the death of an NC worker.
"Farooq Abdullah has nothing to do with it. Whatever has to come will come in the judicial inquiry. We have nothing to hide. What else you want me to say.... The truth will come out," Abdullah told reporters after a meeting of party MLAs and ministers here.
He said the opposition PDP's demand for his and chief minister Omar Abdullah's resignation pending the judicial inquiry into the death of NC worker Syed Mohammad Yousuf, allegedly in police custody, was nothing but a political stunt.
"This is a political stunt. They (PDP) don't want National Conference-Congress government to stay. They only want power," Abdullah, who is a union minister, said.
The National Conference president said the opposition will have to apologise for levelling "baseless" allegations as they have done in the past.
"They have apologised in the past and I promise you they will apologise on this also," he said.
Asked about allegations levelled by National Conference worker Abdul Salam Reshi, he said, "Anyone can mention anybody's name. You cannot stop anyone. This is a democratic country, not an autocratic country."
Abdullah said NC has always selected people on the basis of merit and money has never been a factor.
"There are MLAs and Ministers here, ask them if they have paid anything. NC has never asked for money and it will remain the same in future as well," he said on the allegations of "political payoffs".
61-year-old NC worker Yousuf had died last week shortly after being handed over to the Crime Branch in connection with bribery allegations, triggering demands by PDP and BJP for resignation of Omar and his father Farooq Abdullah.