‘Vindicated’ Cong won’t ally with PDP

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 19

Moments after the BJP pulled out of its coalition with the PDP, the Congress distanced itself from the latter saying there was no question of any alliance with the PDP and said Governor’s Rule will only exacerbate the situation.

Former J&K Chief Minister and veteran Congress man Ghulam Nabi Azad was the first to articulate his party’s stand on the developments. He claimed vindication as the BJP-PDP bond broke.

“In 2015 while speaking on the floor of Parliament I had warned PM Narendra Modi that his party’s alliance with the PDP in J&K was a Himalayan blunder. My words have come true. Our party’s stand has been vindicated. The PM had shrugged me off then,” Azad said.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi too reacted, saying: “The opportunistic BJP-PDP alliance set fire to J&K, killing many innocent people, including our brave soldiers. It cost India strategically and destroyed years of UPA’s hard work. The damage will continue under Governor’s Rule. Incompetence, arrogance and hatred always fails.”

Politically, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Azad indicated that the Congress will play hard to get as far as shaking hands with PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti goes. He recalled past betrayals to stress “the question of an alliance with the PDP does not arise”.

Azad was referring to the Congress’ offer of a grand alliance to keep the BJP out of power in J&K.

“We are happy at least the people of the Valley will now be spared further troubles,” Azad said.