SRINAGAR: With talks on government formation between PDP and BJP deadlocked, former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has ruled out aligning with the saffron party saying he would quit politics rather making any compromise.
“My party National Conference would never enter into any sort of an alliance with the BJP,” Omar said while addressing party workers in Shopian in South Kashmir today.
He asserted that he would rather quit politics than compromise with the honour and dignity of the State and its people.
“I can never have anything to do with these people (BJP) and would refuse every position of power that comes at the cost of the dignity of my people,” Omar said.
Taking a dig at PDP, Omar said, “PDP entered into an alliance with those who want to abolish our flag, destroy the foundations of our special status and patronize those who persecute people on the basis of what they eat and do not eat. In last year, BJP has used its alliance with PDP in J&K as a certificate to disguise its politics of polarization as that of inclusivity”.
Omar's statement assumes significance in view of the continued deadlock on government formation talks between PDP and BJP.
After the death of Mufti Sayeed, PDP patron and former Chief Minister of PDP-BJP government on January 7 this year, his daughter and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has refused to take over as CM of the PDP-BJP coalition government.
She wants some concessions from central government before forming the coalition government with the saffron party in the State.
Mehbooba wants renegotiation on Common Minimum Programme named “Agenda of Alliance” framed by the two parties last year. She also wants return of some NHPC-run power projects to the State, more central funds to the State, granting smart city status to two cities of the State, resumption of dialogue with separatists and no unnecessary interference from the central government in State affairs.
The talks between PDP and BJP are going on for over a month now but the breakthrough is eluding them.
Infact, according to sources, BJP has hardened its stand and told PDP president Mehbooba Mufti to first form the coalition government with the saffron party and then only some J&K-specific Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) would be announced by the central government.
Jammu and Kashmir is presently under Governor’s rule. The Governor’s rule was imposed on January 8, a day after Mufti Sayeed death.