Voted for NC candidates in RS polls in larger interest of J&K: Jailed AAP MLA
Jammu (PTI): Jailed AAP MLA Mehraj Malik on Saturday said he voted for the NC candidates in the Rajya Sabha polls in the "larger interest" of Jammu and Kashmir, setting at rest claims that he was among those who voted in favour of the BJP candidates.
Malik, who is the president of the Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) on September 8 and is currently lodged in the Kathua jail.
"Even after casting my vote for the NC from jail without them ever reaching out or making the slightest effort to seek my support I am now being questioned by some of their leaders. This is the absolute height of shamelessness.
"Let me make it clear: the National Conference was never serious about winning this (the fourth) Rajya Sabha seat. They neither approached me nor showed any intent to build consensus. Still, keeping the larger interests of Jammu and Kashmir in mind, I chose to vote for them believing my vote could make a difference," Malik said in a statement that was uploaded on social media by his party after a meeting with him in the prison.
On Friday, the ruling NC won three seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured one seat in the first Rajya Sabha polls held in Jammu and Kashmir after it became a Union Territory in August 2019.
Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Sat Sharma defeated NC candidate Imran Nabi Dar by securing 32 votes against his opponent's 22 in the third notification. NC's Gurwinder Singh Oberoi also got elected under this notification by securing 31 votes, while two other NC members emerged victorious on the two remaining seats that went to polls under separate notifications.
"Unfortunately, now I realised that some among them were already compromised and had decided to side with the BJP. Today, their actions and statements only expose their hypocrisy and double standards," Malik said in the statement.
He said those pretending to be "anti-BJP are the same ones proving their friendship with Sat Sharma".
Moreover, the AAP leader claimed that by fielding a Muslim candidate from the Nagrota Assembly segment, which is slated to go to bypolls on November 11, the NC is only "helping" the BJP consolidate its position, a move that clearly shows where the ruling party's "true loyalties lie".
"The people of Jammu and Kashmir can now see through this political drama. History will remember who truly stood firm and who surrendered for personal gains," the statement said.
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2nd WT20I: Shafali, spin trio do star turns in India''s seven-wicket win
Visakhapatnam (PTI): Shafali Verma hit a blistering unbeaten 69 as India made short work of a paltry target to outclass Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the second Women’s T20 International here on Tuesday.
India now lead the five-match series 2-0 after another one-sided victory, having restricted Sri Lanka to a modest 128 for 9 through a collective display of disciplined bowling from the spin trio of seasoned Sneh Rana, ably complemented by young spinners Vaishnavi Sharma and Shree Charani.
During the chase, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana (14) fell cheaply but Shafali, enjoying new found confidence after a stellar show in the World Cup final, sent the bowlers on a leather-hunt during her 34-ball knock, winning it for her team in just 11.5 overs.
The hosts have now completed back-to-back successful chases within 15 overs which speaks volumes about the unit's sky-high confidence.
Shafali's innings had 11 punchy boundaries apart from a maximum.
The floodgates opened when left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera bowled a few flighted deliveries and Shafali would step out everytime to hit her over extra cover. Her footwork against slow bowlers was immaculate whether stepping out to loft the ball or rocking back to punch or pull.
Seeing her confidence, the newly appointed Delhi Capitals skipper Jemimah Rodrigues (26 off 15 balls) also attacked as the duo added 58 runs in just 4.3 overs.
By the time Rodrigues was out trying to hit one six too many, the match as a contest was over. Shafali completed her half-century off just 27 balls and completed the formalities in a jiffy.
Earlier, off-spinner Rana, who got a look-in after Deepti Sharma was ruled out due to fever, showed her utility keeping the Lankan batters under tight leash with figures of 1 for 11 in 4 overs, including a maiden which certainly is a rarity in T20 cricket.
Charani, who made an impression during India's ODI World Cup triumph, took 2 for 23 in her quota of overs, while Vaishnavi after an impressive debut in the opening encounter, finished with 2 for 32, not letting the Islanders get easy runs in her second spell.
The last six wickets fell for just 24 runs, but what stood out during India’s bowling effort was their superb ground fielding. After a patchy show in the previous game, the improved sharpness in the field resulted in three run-outs.
Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu (31 off 24 balls) looked in good nick as she deposited length deliveries from seamers Kranti Gaud and Arundhati Reddy over the ropes but it was Rana, who kept her quiet by repeatedly pitching on good length.
Unable to manoeuvre the strike and with the big hits suddenly drying up, Athapaththu chanced her arm at another delivery in which Rana had shortened the length slightly.
Not having transferred the weight into the lofted shot, Athapaththu's hoick was pouched cleanly by Amanjot Kaur at long-off.
This was after Athapaththu's opening partner Vishmi Gunaratne (1) had offered a simple return catch to Gaud.
Hasini Perera (22 off 28 balls) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (33 off 32 balls) did stitch a stand of 44 but they could never set the tempo against the Indian spin troika.
Once Hasini offered a tame return catch off a Charani full-toss, Sri Lankans never recovered and lost wickets in a heap towards the end.
