Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 16: A day after former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah categorically ruled out any chance of rejoining the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), his former political advisor and ex-close aide-turned-BJP leader Devender Rana exposed his ex-political boss on “relations” with the Saffron Party.
“Even after the abrogation of Article 370, the National Conference leadership made repeated attempts to reach out to the BJP”, Rana told a national channel.
Rana’s startling revelations regarding efforts of the National Conference leadership to join hands with BJP has created ripples in the political circle.
When his attention was drawn to the National Conference president’s yesterday’s statement in which he indicated rejoining the NDA, Rana said, “Farooq Sahib’s statement did not surprise me because the NC has always been very very keen to join hands with the BJP.”.
“They were part of the NDA and in 2014 also the NC made a very vehement effort to form government with the BJP”, Rana revealed and further disclosed that it was not Dr. Farooq Abdullah but Omar Abdullah himself who led the talks with the BJP leadership to form the government.
Rana, however, said that the offer of the National Conference was rejected by t Omar Abdullah led the talks with the BJP leaders.
He met top BJP leaders but NC's offer was turned down.
Everybody in NC, including Omar , was keen to form the government with BJP in 2014.
Before the abrogation of Art 370, NC made attempts to form a strategic alliance with the BJP.
Devendra Singh Rana, who was an important leader of the National Conference and close aide of Omar Abdullah, said that he was privy to the efforts of the National Conference to reach out to the BJP.
“I was in the NC at that time that’s why I am saying this. Dr Farooq Abdullah was in London and Omar Abdullah led the talks with the BJP leaders. He had a meeting with top dignitaries of the BJP at that point of time. The talks were rejected but the NC was very very keen I can tell you”, he said.
“Everybody in the National Conference including Omar Abdullah was keen to form the government with BJP in 2014”, he said.
Rana further revealed that after the demise of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed when there was a gap in the formation of government, the National Conference leadership made another attempt to form government with the BJP.
“Dr. Farooq Abdullah is very keen to have a tie-up with the BJP”, he said and revealed that he went to Delhi with top NC leaders to hold talks with BJP leaders.
“Before the abrogation of Article 370, attempts were made by the NC leadership to form a strategic alliance with the BJP”, he disclosed and revealed that even after the abrogation of Article 370, attempts were made by the NC leadership to reach out to the BJP. | 