NVI Correspondent
Jammu, Sep 03 (NVI): National Conference (NC) was ready to enter into an alliance with the BJP in 2014 with no objection to having the saffron party’s Chief Minister in J&K, claimed Devender Singh Rana, BJP leader who was with the NC till about 3 years back.
“Let me reveal something you may not be knowing. In 2014, NC was squeezed to just 15 seats in Assembly polls. NC delegation headed by Omar Abdullah went to Delhi with a begging bowl. I was part of the delegation. We met top BJP ministers in Delhi and requested them for BJP-NC alliance in J&K,” he said addressing a press conference in Jammu.
Rana, who was in the NC and considered close to the Abdullah family before switching to the BJP, said, “NC was even ready for a BJP Chief Minister in J&K. I know the person who was going to be the BJP CM in J&K but it’s not feasible to name him at this juncture.”
He said Omar and his team had to return empty handed despite repeated requests for an alliance.
“BJP leaders including Union Home Minister Amit Shah didn’t agree for an alliance,” Rana said.
He said back home in Kashmir, late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed offered an alliance with BJP that was later worked out.
Rana while lashing out at Omar said it was shocking to see him making statements like BJP leader Ram Madhav was in touch with the PDP.
“Has he forgotten that that he himself was grown in the political lap of BJP? Has he forgotten that he served as a BJP minister,” he asked.
Rana said the claims being made by the NC that the name of Shankaracharya hill in Srinagar will be changed to Takht-e-Sulaim will never be fulfilled as long as BJP is present in J&K.
He said that it seems that NC wants to revive stone pelting by claiming that the party will ensure release of all “stone pelters.”
“We will not allow the return of 2008, 2010 when youth were killed on every street of Kashmir,” Rana said, adding that “NC is feeling unnerved over the peaceful atmosphere prevailing in J&K post 2014 and especially post revocation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.”
It is pertinent to mention that Omar while speaking to reporters at Kangan, Ganderbal yesterday, stated that it seems that BJP leader Ram Madhav was in touch with the PDP. (NVI)
