No tie-up with BJP, Cong too far off: Omar - The Indian Express

Omar said that though the BJP has gone soft on Article 370, which gives special status to the state, the party has not disassociated itself from the issue.

A day before election results, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah ruled out any alliance with the BJP, citing fundamental differences between his National Conference and the saffron outfit over issues like Article 370, uniform civil code, religious conversions and Babri demolition.

He also cited the 2010 summer unrest and no progress in repealing Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) as a few regrets during his six-year rule.

“There can’t be any alliance with the BJP as the NC has strong reservations on revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution, demolition of Babri Masjid, uniform civil code and even the PM keeping silent on the forced conversion issue,’’ he told reporters on the eve of counting for the 87-member Assembly.

Omar said that though the BJP has gone soft on Article 370, which gives special status to the state, the party has not disassociated itself from the issue. He also asserted that no lines of communication were open between the NC and the Congress or the PDP.

The Chief Minister said that though he does not believe in speculation, in case the exit polls come true then neither the Congress nor his party has the numbers to form the government. “Let us wait till tomorrow. I don’t believe in these exit polls and if we assume the results of the exit polls are true, even hardly together we have the numbers to form the government,’’ he said, adding that no single party would form the government. “The NC will put up a credible show.’’

His government partner Congress too appeared confident of a better show despite a poor forecast in the exit polls. “We will do good in Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh regions,’’ Congress’s state president Saifuddin Soz said.

Omar did not regret his alliance with the Congress, but criticised former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for personal attacks on him and his family. “He (Azad) ran a bitter campaign in desperation to pull something out of debris of the Congress party.’’

The Chief Minister said that decline in militancy, increase in number of tourists and Panchayats elections were his achievements.