Coalition govts do not suit J&K, says Farooq Abdullah

SRINAGAR: Former J&K Chief Minister and National Conference patriarch Dr Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said coalition governments do not suit the state. Though he avoided explaining it, his statement is significant in the wake of his party’s alliances with Congress in 1975, 1987 and later with the BJP in 1996.

Dr Farooq said his party would decide its role only after the crisis between the ruling coalition partners — PDP and Congress — creates a situation demanding a decision. He, however, added hurriedly that the situation has not reached that pass.

“PDP ruled the state for three years and now, when it is out of power, it is creating problems for the Chief Minister. We are keenly watching the situation and would decide only when it reaches such a stage,” Dr Abdullah told reporters in Srinagar. “If the alliance breaks, then only will our party decide”.

On troop pull-out — the issue that is the main source of contention between the alliance partners — Dr Farooq said the decision should be taken by the Chief Minister only. “He is the best judge because he has the inputs from security and intelligence agencies,” Dr Farooq added. NC is state’s principal political party and the main opposition.

Off late, it has come under attack from its own cadres for not taking a stand on troop reduction. One of its senior leaders Rafi Mir recently quit the party and joined PDP, the party that wants troop reduction, eviction of troops from social infrastructure and agriculture land and revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.