NC's tie-up with BJP "impossible": J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said it was "impossible" for his party, the National Conference (NC), to join hands with the BJP, trashing reports about the party giving any such indications.

"Where from did you get such reports (of a tie-up with the BJP)? You make such reports at your homes. What can I do? There is no such thing from our side. We have not given any such indication," Omar told reporters here.

The Chief Minister said such reports were created by some journalist attributing it to "senior sources".

"Some journalist makes a story on a table ... you do not give any names and say senior sources said that. I know what senior sources are and you make them at home.

"NC has no intention to join hands with the BJP. We cannot join our hands with such a party whose ministers at the Centre use such words against us, it is impossible," Omar said, apparently referring to the controversial remarks made by Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti.

The Chief Minister was speaking at the sidelines of a prayer meeting at the mausoleum of his grandfather and former CM Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah on his birth anniversary.

Omar said it was a good sign for his party that people in large numbers were attending his rallies during electioneering.

"My own sense is that things have picked up for us in the last 15 to 20 days. The participation that I have seen in my public meetings ... more than the participation, because the numbers are not as important as enthusiasm ... the level of enthusiasm I see among my cadre, the level of enthusiasm I see among my workers, the enthusiasm among the participants in the public meetings, I, honestly, have not seen this in the last two or three elections.

"This, for me, is almost a unique experience. I have gone in areas and had public meetings where traditionally nobody has shown up for our public meetings and that I think it (large attendance) is a good sign," he said.

Omar, the working President of the National Conference, had addressed large gatherings during campaigning in many constituencies in Budgam, Baramulla and Jammu