NC to remain with UPA, says Farooq Abdullah

NEW DELHI: National Conference leader and Union Minister Farooq Abdullah today ruled out any "re-think" by his party on extending support to UPA despite the rout of Congress in the Assembly elections in four states.

"There is no re-thinking. We believe in standing with them (UPA), giving them support at this time. We have never betrayed people and we will not do it now," Abdullah told reporters outside Parliament.

NC is an alliance partner of UPA and is ruling Jammu and Kashmir with Congress.

He was asked whether NC will rethink its alliance with UPA after the severe drubbing of Congress in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh and Rajasthan elections.

"Yes, Congress has lost the elections but that does not mean we should desert it. Rather we should hold their hands strongly at this juncture," he said.

Asked about the reasons for the Congress defeat, Abdullah said, "There were several issues like price rise. Onion prices had touched Rs 100 per kg. Corruption was also an issue which affected the voting."

However, he did not agree with the observation that the verdict is against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying, "There is no such verdict against Rahul."

Asked to comment on Sharad Pawar's statement that Congress lost because of weak leadership, he said, "I have nothing to say on it. We are with UPA. What Pawar is doing, it is his problem. Farooq Abdullah is not going to leave UPA."

Asked if there was a Modi wave during the recently held assembly elections, he said, "Where is Modi wave? If there was a Modi wave then BJP could have won the Delhi elections also."

"I am not with Modi. We are for a leader who can keep all people together and protect secularism."