Modi to opposition: Do you support Omar Abdullah on separate PM for J&K?

NEW DELHI/SECUNDERABAD: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah's statement on Monday that his party will strive hard to restore

Jammu and Kashmir's autonomy

that could include having a Sadare-Riyasat (president) and a Wazir-e-Azam (prime minister) evoked sharp reactions from BJP as PM Narendra Modi and finance minister Arun Jaitley strongly condemned it.


Modi slammed Abdullah's remark and demanded to know from Congress and the opposition parties if they supported the NC leader on the autonomy issue.

Addressing a rally in Secunderabad in Telangana, Modi asked 'Mahagathbandhan' leaders to make their stand clear on the issue. He said there were media reports that Abdullah had stated there should be a separate prime minister for J&K.

"Two prime ministers for Hindustan? Do you agree with it? Congress has to answer and all the 'Mahagathbandhan' partners have to answer. What are the reasons and how dare he (Abdullah) say that," he said.

Modi said he also wanted to ask West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, former PM HD Deve Gowda, Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar whether they agreed with Abdullah's statement.

"I want to ask Bengal Didi who shouts a lot, do you agree with it? Answer the people U-turn (Chandrababu) Babu with whom

Farooq Abdullah

campaigned recently in Andhra Pradesh. Do you think Naidu should get votes?" he asked.

Jaitley said Omar's statement was intended to create a separatist psyche. "Little do these 'demandeurs' realise how much they are hurting the country as also their own people. The new India will never allow any government to commit such blunders," the finance minister said. He said the two mainstream parties in Jammu & Kashmir were increasingly losing their identity.