Mian Altaf refuses to meet BJP leader

Srinagar, August 28

Senior National Conference leader and former minister Mian Altaf on Friday refused to see visiting BJP’s national general secretary Ram Madhav at his residence saying that he had nothing to do with him or his brand of politics.

Mian Altaf, top Gujjar leader of J&K, whose family’s influence is spread all across, was approached by Khalid Jahangir, one of the BJP leaders of Kashmir, informing him that Ram Madhav would like to visit him.

In response, the NC leader said a firm and polite no. “I told Khalid that I am not interested in meeting any BJP leader, be it Ram Madhav, because I have nothing to do with your brand of politics,” he told The Tribune over phone from his residence in Wangat, part of Kangan constituency that he has represented in the J&K Assembly since 1987 without any break.

Mian Altaf said he had been off politics for one year. “I have not given even a single statement for the past one year,” he said, adding, “I don’t want to be dragged into any political game that may result in harm to me.” “Please leave me alone,” he is reported to have told the caller and also sent an SMS message to him to this effect. — TNS