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NC-PDP indulge in war of words over Modi
Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi might not seem to hold relevance as far as the local politics in the Valley is concerned, but he has become a major poll issue here.
Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi might not seem to hold relevance as far as the local politics in the Valley is concerned, but he has become a major poll issue here.
With an eye on the upcoming assembly elections, the two biggest mainstream parties in the state, the National Conference and People's Democratic Party, have been accusing each of other of being 'anti-Kashmir', for holding 'secret parleys' with Modi.
The 'drama' started on Sunday with chief minister Omar Abdullah accusing opposition PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed of holding "hidden meetings" with senior BJP leaders LK Advani and Narendra Modi.
"Hidden meetings of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed with the close associates of LK Advani and his close contact with Narendra Modi have come to the fore, exposing the ideology of the PDP," said Omar in his speech in south Kashmir's Kellar area.
According to him, the "hidden league" between the BJP and the PDP was also exposed when they forged an alliance during various elections for members of legislative councils (MLC) in the state.
Calling the PDP "power-hungry", Omar alleged that the PDP "wants to sail in two boats to seek power, but their boat will sink due to the weight of its own falsehood".
The chief minister's accusations were followed by statements on the same line by National Conference leaders at the state's winter capital Jammu. The CM's close aide Devender Rana called the PDP a "proxy" for the BJP. Rana alleged that Mufti Sayeed was using a former director of the intelligence bureau (IB), who happened to be advising the BJP on security-related matters, a woman social activist considered to be close to Mehbooba Mufti, and a Delhi-based senior journalist, also Mufti's close friend, as the conduit between the PDP and the BJP.
A day later, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti lashed out at the NC for being BJP's former allies. "People know well who formed an alliance with the BJP at the Centre to seek power in the past," Mehbooba said while addressing a rally at Handwara.
"Those who say that the PDP has hidden contacts with BJP should not forget the past, when these people, for the sake of a ministerial berth, allied with the NDA at Centre. For these people, the BJP was sacred then, but now it has become unholy," Mehbooba alleged, adding that people knew well who are and were "hand-in-glove" with the BJP.
While assembly elections are a year away, political parties are already in election mood.
The 'Modi effect' has not left the state untouched though. Omar had earlier said that the BJP leader would not "enthuse the average voter", but "may galvanise the BJP cadres", and NC general secretary and Omar's uncle Sheikh Mustafa Kamal had also kicked up a storm when he was quoted by the media saying, "NC will have a harmonious relationship with the Centre if Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister." Kamal, however, said he was "misquoted".
