BJP looking at all possibilities: Amit Shah

Bengaluru, January 3

As stalemate continued in Jammu and Kashmir over government formation, BJP chief Amit Shah onn Saturday said his party is looking at “all possibilities” and hoped that a decision will come “anytime”.

“All options are open for the BJP in Jammu & Kashmir. We are looking at all possibilities to form a government. I am hoping that a decision will come in this regard anytime,” he told reporters here.

He was responding when asked about the status of government formation in Jammu and Kashmir where the stalemate is continuing for the last 12 days because of hung verdict in the Assembly elections.

The BJP, which emerged the second largest party bagging 25 seats in the 87-member Assembly behind the PDP (28 seats), has sought more time from Governor N.N. Vohra as it was holding talks with both the People’s Democratic Party and National Conference (15 seats).

When a reporter referred to NC leader Omar Abdullah’s recent tweet that there was no deal with the BJP, Shah said, “Do you believe that Omar Abdullah will reveal all truth to you?

“... even I cannot tell about it.”

Shah had said in Mumbai yesterday that, “Talks are on with both parties (PDP and NC). There has been no fruitful outcome (yet).”

The Governor has set January 19 deadline for formation of the government in the state.

On the controversy over conversions, the BJP chief said “This is not a programme of the government. We (BJP) are against forceful conversion.”

He went on to add, “The so-called secular parties should support BJP in bringing in a law to stop forceful conversion.”

On reports that the Congress planned to form Bharatiya Hindu Samaj on the lines of the VHP, Shah said everybody has the right to form such outfits. “All people - Muslims and Christians - are independent to form such groups. Everybody has the right to do so,” he said.

Asked about Opposition charge that the CBI’s image had dipped after a special court in Mumbai discharged him in the case of Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter killing, he said the verdict was given by the court which does not come under the ambit of the government.

“The clean chit was given by the court, and courts do not come under government’s purview.It works under the supervision of the Supreme Court. I wouldn’t like to comment any more on the issue, my party and my lawyer will speak on it,” he said.

To a question on opposition to land acquisition ordinance, the BJP chief said the government had brought it only after giving a serious thought considering infrastructure development in urban and rural areas. — PTI