Senior BJP leader Ram Madhav, who earlier on Thursday claimed that the National Conference and the PDP had "instructions from across the border" to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir, retracted his statement after former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah challenged him to prove the allegation. 

Responding to Abdullah's tweet, Ram Madhav said, "Just landed at Aizawl and saw this. Now that you deny any external pressure I take back my comment. But, now that you proved it was genuine love between NC and PDP that prompted a failed government formation attempt. You should fight next elections together. Mind you, it’s a political comment, not personal."

Madhav had alleged that the PDP and the NC boycotted local body polls last month because they had instructions from across the border. Fresh instructions were given to both parties from across the border to come together and form government in Jammu and Kashmir, he was quoted as saying by ANI.

Countering Madhav's allegation, Abdullah dared the BJP's pointsman for the state to prove his allegation.

"You have RAW, NIA & IB at your command (CBI too is your parrot) so have the guts to place evidence in the public domain. Either prove this or be man enough to apologise. Don't practice shoot & scoot politics," Abdullah tweeted.

The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister's remarks prompted a response from Madhav, who said he was not questioning Abdullah's patriotism.

"Just take it in your stride @OmarAbdullah Not questioning your patriotism at all. But d sudden love between NC n PDP n d hurry to form government leads to many suspicions n political comments. Not to offend u," Madhav tweeted and added an emoji with a toothy smile.

Abdullah did not seem amused.

"No, misplaced attempts at humour won't work. You HAVE claimed my party has been acting at the behest of Pakistan. I dare you to prove it! Place the evidence of your allegation of NC boycott of ULB polls at Pak behest in public domain," he tweeted.

Addressing a press conference in Srinagar later in the day, the NC leader repeated his demand for an apology from Madhav.

"You cannot undermine the sacrifices made by National Conference workers in protecting the sovereignty of this country. He must apologise," he said.

(With PTI inputs)