Will think if BJP approaches for Govt formation: Dr Farooq
National Conference patron Dr Farooq Abdullah, who met Governor NN Vohra here today to discuss the present situation in JK, said that political uncertainty prevailing in the state was not in the interest of people.
Terming the “no government period” as a major concern for the people, Abdullah urged the PDP and BJP leaders to come forward and discuss their “contradictions” and “issues” for ending the uncertainty over government formation in Jammu and Kashmir.
On being asked whether his party is ready to consider a tie-up with the BJP for government formation, he said, “If such a proposal comes, then NC will call a Working Committee (meeting) and debate over it. If such a situation arises, NC can think over it.”
In the 87-member Assembly, BJP has 25 MLAs while NC has 14 legislators. Abdullah, whose party had earlier been a part of BJP-led NDA, said NC never shies away from playing its role.
“NC never shies away from its role. In 1996 when nobody was ready for election, we came forward,” the former Chief Minister said.
Abdullah said it would not be possible for the Governor to run the state for a longer period.
“I insist the former coalition partners to come forward and discuss the government formation in the better interest of people of this state,” Abdullah told.
“If they (PDP, BJP) were comfortable as partners in government for all these months, what has happened to them now?” Dr Farooq asked.
The former chief minister had a one-hour one-to-one meeting with the State Governor during which, sources said, detailed discussion was held on the prevailing political situation in J&K.
On invitation to separatists and two JK legislators for a conference in Islamabad, Pakistan, Farooq Abdullah said, “There is no issue if separatists or JK legislators take part in the conference as it is also part of dialogue. I favour the participation of the stakeholders from this state in the scheduled conference.”
He said, “According to me, no one should object to participation in such meetings that aims at solving a long pending dispute.”
He termed the release of Jaish-e-Muhammad Chief Maulana Masood Azhar from KotBhalwal Jail of Jammu in lieu of the Air India passengers in 1999 as the biggest ever mistake committed by the NDA government.
“I was totally against his (Azhar’s) release while I was the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in the year 1999 and I also cleared my intentions to the then government”, Farooq said, adding his apprehensions came true when Azhar was held responsible by the government for the recent Pathankot attack.
Emphasising the need for carrying forward the Indo-Pak dialogue process, the NC president recalled observations of the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, made on the banks of Kishen Ganga in Tangdhar, that friends can be changed but not the neighbours. The two nations, he said, cannot wish away each other and therefore Islamabad and New Delhi must take ahead the current initiative.
He recalled his meeting with Narendra Modi at a function in Gujarat in 2011. “I had told Modi that I want to see the day in my life when I would look in his (Modi’s) eyes and would be able to see my Allah, and when he (Modi) looks in my eyes, he will see his Ram.”
Besides provincial president Devender Singh Rana, the NC president was accompanied by senior State vice president Surjeet Singh Slathia, his political advisor Vijay Bakaya, State vice president Thakur Kashmira Singh, provincial Youth NC president Ajaz Jan, former legislator DrChamanLalBhagat and provincial vice-president Jugal Mahajan during his visit to several areas in Jammu division. (with PTI inputs)