KL Report
SRINAGAR
A day after joining a newly-formed political party, a close relative of senior National Conference leader and Finance Minister, Abdul Rahim Rather, said the Minister ‘disowns’ him because his joining of politics would be a challenge for him in upcoming Assembly polls.
Nazir Ahmad Rather, who on Sunday joined Awami Itihaad Front (AIF) led by Rabia Baji, has announced to contest polls against Rather from Chrari-i-Sharief constituency in central Kashmir’s Budgam district. A member of AIF had said that Nazir is the nephew of Finance Minister, who is also sitting Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Chrar-i-Sharif constituency.
However, the Finance Minister on Monday refuted that Nazir is his nephew.
“Mr. Rather has said that he has only one nephew who is a Government Employee and the media reports hence, are baseless and false,” a government spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Nazir Ahmad Rather told GNS that his cousin sister is the wife of Finance Minister and claimed that he is very close to Rather. “Now, Rather Sahab disowns me because I am contesting elections against him. It is a challenge to him as we both are from Baadipora area,” he said, adding that Finance Minister used to treat me as his own nephew.
He said he served as an officer in Agricultural Department and the reason for joining the politics is to serve people. “All these politicians including Abdul Rahim Rather have exploited people.”
