J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

J&K BJP for breaking ties with NC
Jammu, February 26
While the state unit of the BJP has urged the party high command to throw the National Conference (NC), out of the NDA on the charge of having allegedly rigged the Lok Sabha poll in the Jammu constituency, the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has described all those who “accuse NC of rigging” as “enemies of the nation”.

Ultras kill NC leader

Srinagar, February 26 A National Conference block president and a Hizbul Mujahideen militant were killed while forces captured three ultras and busted a hideout in the Kashmir valley overnight.

Neighbours console the daughter of National Conference block president Abdul Bashir Dar, who was killed by militants in his house at Telbal, near Hazratbal, on the outskirts of Srinagar on Monday night. —PTI

J&K BJP for breaking ties with NC
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 26
While the state unit of the BJP has urged the party high command to throw the National Conference (NC), out of the NDA on the charge of having allegedly rigged the Lok Sabha poll in the Jammu constituency, the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has described all those who “accuse NC of rigging” as “enemies of the nation”.

Dr Abdullah told newspersons just before the start of the Budget session of the state legislature here today that the BJP and the Congress lost the election because of their internal differences. He said the BJP could not get sufficient votes in areas which used to be treated as its strong hold and now “these enemies of the nation have joined together to kill me.”

The Opposition parties have always raked up the issue of rigging. “They have done in the past also and I have faced such charges and will face them because I know that the polling has been free and fair,” he said.

Asked whether he would take up the matter with the Central Government, Dr Abdullah said, “Why should, I do it? We have approached the Chief Election Commission to convey our viewpoint.”

When asked whether he would pull out of the NDA because of the BJP’s failure to win the poll in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal, he said the NDA would stay and complete its term. He said the voters in the three states showed that they were above religious issues. They had voted against the BJP for a change and with the hope that their problems would be taken care of.

However, Mr Ashok Khajuria, BJP Vice-President, said the state unit of the BJP would pursuade the party high command to break links with the NC. He said the NDA’s image would be tarnished if the NC remained in the alliance as it had rigged the poll in Jammu. He said the party had enough evidence to prove that the NC had indulged in rigging.

The BJP threatened that its seven MLAs would quit the Assembly in protest against the alleged rigging in the Lok Sabha byelection.

Ultras kill NC leader

Srinagar, February 26
A National Conference block president and a Hizbul Mujahideen militant were killed while forces captured three ultras and busted a hideout in the Kashmir valley overnight.