A heated exchange has erupted between Sheikh Abdul Rashid and former chief minister Omar Abdullah, with the Baramulla MP challenging the National Conference vice-president to accompany him to Tihar jail when he surrenders next month. Omar has partially accepted the challenge.

The altercation was in the aftermath of an accusation hurled by Omar’s father Farooq Abdullah that Rashid, popularly called Engineer Rashid, is a Delhi agent.

“Are they the same people who asked for azaadi, raised slogans like Pakistan zindabad? How did they become dear to India today? They are being released from jails (by the BJP) and told to fight for us today,” Farooq said.

Separately, Omar accepted Rashid’s challenge to accompany him to Tihar. “Engineer Rashid said yesterday that if I accompany him to jail, he will withdraw from the contest. I am telling him that the day he intends to return to Tihar jail, I will accompany him to drop him off there. Let him leave the field and stay home,” Omar said.

Following his release, Rashid asked Omar to accompany him to Tihar, though he did not specify that Omar should enter the jail with him. Omar agreed to accompany Rashid to the jail but made it clear that he would only drop him off, not enter the premises.

The MP was reportedly annoyed by Omar’s comments about his interim bail till October 2. Omar regretted that Rashid would not be able to represent the people of his constituency since he would be returning to jail soon. Hitting back, Rashid suggested Omar lacked the spine to even accompany him to the jail premises.

“Omar sahab is saying Engineer Rashid will again go to jail. Omar sahab, don’t worry, I will go to jail. You make one promise that the day I surrender (before jail authorities), you will do one thing. Come to Srinagar airport and drop me at Tihar jail. I (his party) will withdraw from Ganderbal and Beerwah,” he said. Omar is contesting from Ganderbal and Budgam and had represented Beerwah in 2014.