National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah hints at staying away from opposition grand alliance

JAMMU: Deflating the opposition’s hopes of forming a pan-India front to take on BJP in next year’s general election, National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah on Saturday said he did not see any benefit from such a grand alliance for his party or for Jammu and Kashmir.
Talking to reporters in Rajouri, the former J&K chief minister said, “What do we have (to contribute) outside Jammu and Kashmir? We have only five (Lok Sabha) seats. What impact will it create at the national level?”
He hinted at NC’s intention to distance itself from the opposition’s move, saying: “We will fight against BJP on our five seats; let them do whatever they want.”
Omar was in Rajouri to pay a courtesy visit to a party leader who recently lost a family member.
Responding to a query on the possibility of NC joining hands with other opposition parties against BJP, he candidly said, “When they need us, they knock on our doors. When (Delhi chief minister Arvind) Kejriwal is in trouble, he needs our support. But, where were these leaders in 2019, when we faced a big deceit?”
The reference was to the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of J&K into two Union Territories by the central government in August 2019.
“Only two or three parties — TMC, DMK and Left — stood with the people of J&K at the time of crisis,” the NC leader said. “Where were those, who are raising hue and cry today for safeguarding the Constitution and democracy, when there was a murder of democracy in J&K? They did not speak against it and in fact, supported the move (in Parliament).”
On the possibility of a pre-poll alliance ahead of assembly elections in J&K, he said the question was premature. “Let the poll bugle be sounded, and we will sit together to take a call on this. The opinion or decision of one person does not matter; all the leaders of the party (NC) will discuss the issue, weigh its pros and cons and reach a consensus,” he said.
On the delay in holding of assembly elections, he said: “It is evident that BJP is not ready; had it been ready, elections would have taken place.”
On BJP’s claim of unprecedented development in J&K under the Modi government, Omar was cryptic: “Everything will be clear once the elections take place.”