Omar Abdullah: Offer of support expired the day PDP allied with BJP

Senior National Conference leader and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah said that his party would not extend support to Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party to save the government.

"I just met with the governor and made it clear that my party is not going to support PDP. I told him to create a conducive atmosphere in the state for the next assembly  elections" said Abdullah.

Adressing a hurriedly called press coference at his Gupkar Road residence in Srinagar, Abdullah said that he was not shocked by the BJP's decision but timing took him by surprise. "I was expecting it to happen later this year. The timing is too ungodly and it indeed caught me by surprise," said Abdullah.

When reminded that he had offered support to PDP in 2015, Omar said "The offer expired the day PDP stitched an alliance with BJP".

Abdullah said that he did not want to speculate as what spurred the BJP to pull out its support. "I cannot speculate what was the straw that broke the camel's back. Whether it was the end of Ramzan ceasefire, spike in militancy or the killing of a journalist" he said.

Abdullah said that in no way was his party celebrating the end of the alliance government. "We are rather mourning the demise of democracy" he added. Abdullah also said that governor's rule in J&K should not be extended beyond a reasonable time.