BJP’s Bihar allies JD(U) and RLSP say Ram Madhav’s accusations that PDP and NC were working on ‘instructions from across the border’ are irresponsible.
New Delhi: At least two prominent allies of the BJP have distanced themselves from remarks made by the party’s national general secretary Ram Madhav, who accused the PDP and NC of attempting to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir on “instructions from across the border”.
Madhav Thursday told news agency ANI that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference (NC) had boycotted local body polls last month on instructions from across the border. “Probably, they had fresh instructions from across the border to come together and form the government,” Madhav said.
He was responding to the dramatic developments in the Valley Wednesday evening, when Governor Satya Pal Malik dissolved the state assembly after rejecting competing claims by the PDP-NC combine and the Sajad Lone-led Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference to form the government.
While Madhav later took to Twitter to “take back his comments”, following a spat with Omar Abdullah on the micro-blogging site, his remarks have not gone down well with some of the BJP’s allies.
Also read: PDP made a ‘grand alliance’ offer, but we turned it down: Omar Abdullah
‘Irresponsible, do not subscribe to it’
Senior Janata Dal (United) leader K.C. Tyagi told ThePrint that Madhav’s remarks were irresponsible and that his party, which is in an alliance with the BJP in Bihar, does not subscribe to it.
“My party and I disagree with Madhav’s accusation of Pakistani involvement in bringing the NC and PDP together to stitch an alliance,” Tyagi said. “The BJP too has been in alliance with the NC and the PDP in the past. I do not think that Pakistan is involved in the politics of mainstream parties in the Valley.”
As for dissolution of the state assembly, Tyagi approved of the decision.
“Both Sajad Lone and PDP sent their claims to form the government,” Tyagi said. “This type of situation only promotes horse trading. The governor’s decision is a welcome move to nip the attempts of horse trading in the initial stages.”
The Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP), led by Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha, said it condemns the remarks.
“Ours is a robust democracy of seven decades. We cannot one day come out and make serious allegations that a neighbouring country is helping mainstream political parties,” RLSP leader Subodh Kumar told ThePrint. “We totally condemn it and we will take it up with the BJP.”
While the RLSP and BJP remain allies as of now, ties between the two parties have hit a low due to differences over seat-sharing in Bihar.
Also read: 3 reasons why alliance with Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP could hit Congress, NC in Jammu & Kashmir
Other allies welcome governor’s decision
The Lok Janshakti Party, led by Ram Vilas Paswan, refused to comment on Madhav’s remarks but welcomed the J&K governor’s decision to dissolve the assembly.
“The alliance of PDP and NC is that of the North Pole joining the South Pole. They have been rivals throughout and now to be in power and counter Modi, they have joined hands,” said senior LJP leader Chirag Paswan. “I welcome the governor’s decision, as not dissolving the assembly would amount to promoting horse-trading.”
A long-time ally of BJP, the Shiromani Akali Dal, stayed off the controversy.
“We do not want to comment on it. It is for BJP to see what comments they make. We have decided to not get involved in the issue,” SAD spokesperson D.S. Cheema said.
Strange logic put forward by Shri K C Tyagi that if two claimants to power step forward in a democracy, this will lead to horse trading, better in such a situation to dissolve the Assembly. That could also have been done when Nitishbabu changed horses midstream.