Journalism of Courage
National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah on Sunday clarified his earlier comments on a possible tie-up with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saying that his party’s working committee would only consider it if such a proposal arrived from the saffron party.
“I never said we are going with BJP. I only said our working committee would consider this,” said Farooq.
The senior leader asked the BJP and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to dissolve the assembly and call fresh elections if they are not able to form a government.
“They have the mandate, they must sit down & solve the problem of people,” he said.
READ | Will consider tie-up if BJP offers: Farooq Abdullah
Echoing the views of his father, former Jammu-Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said that people should desist from speculating about an alliance between NC and BJP.
“All he (Farooq Abdullah) has said is that if any proposal comes from the BJP it will be discussed by the Working Committee of the party for a decision,” Omar tweeted. “The Working Committee of the @JKNC is capable of deciding what is in the interest of the state & the party. So please resist speculation”.
On Saturday, the senior Abdullah said that his party is ready to discuss a coalition with BJP if there is a proposal from the party. “It is not that we have shut doors,” Abdullah told reporters at Katra in Jammu. “The National Conference will call its working committee meeting and place such proposal before it for discussion. Our doors are open”.
The senior Abdullah’s statement has fueled speculations that National Conference is also willing for an alliance with BJP to form a coalition government in the state after a stalemate between the PDP and BJP following the death of chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
Omar immediately took to twitter to try to put the speculations to rest. “The audio clip of what my father Dr Farooq Abdullah has said is very clear. Please listen to it before arriving at any conclusions,” he tweeted. “It’s the most reasonable response you can expect. He hasn’t sought an alliance nor assured any support, only consideration & discussion.”
The former chief minister, however, had a word of caution for his father. “That’s why I don’t give categorical answers to hypothetical questions/situations. Unnecessary storms in teacups follow,” he tweeted.
