‘No back-channel talks’
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 5: National Conference (NC) president and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today stated that his party will not align with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for Government formation, emphasizing that such a move would be akin to “imminent death.”
Speaking to media persons at his residence, Dr Abdullah remarked that the votes NC received during the recently held Assembly elections were cast against the BJP, and any alliance with them is out of the question.
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“Whoever joins them (BJP) is headed for death, sooner or later. We cannot align with them because the votes we received were cast against the BJP. They have committed atrocities against Muslims. Do you think we will join them?” he asked.
He also dismissed claims that NC leaders, including himself, had met with any BJP leaders for back-channel talks regarding Government formation in J&K. “The BJP is dreaming if they think they will form a Government in J&K,” he asserted.
Abdullah further accused the BJP of using bulldozers against Muslims, dismantling their homes, schools and mosques, while excluding Muslims from representation in the Cabinet.
“They didn’t even give a ticket to a single Muslim during the Lok Sabha elections, and they don’t have a single Muslim Minister. They are dreaming if they think they will form a Government in J&K. We’ll talk more once counting begins on October 8.”
On the Haryana Assembly elections, Dr. Farooq predicted BJP’s defeat, asserting that Congress will win. “Congress will secure the majority. I have seen that people have suffered there,” he said.
Meanwhile, ahead of the SCO meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar set to visit Pakistan, the NC chief expressed hope that animosity between the two countries will fade.
Speaking to reporters, he stated, “I hope the participating countries will address every issue, especially the economic challenges, which are crucial for the world. I am confident they will also discuss bilateral matters and work toward better understanding between nations.”
He added, “I hope animosities will disappear, paving the way for improved relations between the two countries.”
Meanwhile, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah today dismissed the Exit Poll results for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections and said only the numbers coming out at the end of counting on October 8 will matter.
“I’m amazed channels are bothering with exit polls especially after the fiasco of the recent general elections. I’m ignoring all the noise on channels, social media, WhatsApp Etc because the only numbers that matter will be revealed on the 8th of Oct. The rest is just time pass,” Abdullah posted on X.
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