Sajjad Lone not to join Mufti Mohammed Sayeed cabinet, Peoples Conference attacks BJP for 'betrayal'

JAMMU: Sulking over denial of weighty portfolio to separatist-turned-politican Sajjad Lone, his party People's Conference today issued a veiled threat that it may consider quitting the ruling coalition of PDP-BJP in Jammu and Kashmir.

Lone refused to take charge of ministry of Science and Technology or Animal Husbandry and instead left for Srinagar where he remained closeted with his associate.

The party will meet in Handwara to decide on future course of action.

People's Conference, which has two MLAs, also termed as betrayal on part of the BJP which has found a new friend in PDP.

The party's MLA Bashir Ahmed Dar told PTI tonight that the People's Conference's treatment was a lesson for others. "It is unfortunate.. do not know why they (BJP) are treating us differently now...Under whose influence they are doing it", Dar questioned BJP.

"Now BJP might be thinking that they have befriended PDP what is need of the Peoples Conference now as compared to the past," he told PTI here.

He said Lone did not assume charge of his ministries and instead took the first flight out of Jammu today for Srinagar after surrendering all entitlements including security, official vehicle as a cabinet Minister.

He made it clear that Lone will not join and went on to say that "we have been betrayed (by the BJP)".

"It was a gift of animal husbandry to Sajjad Lone. It is humiliation to us and people we represented. we will not join..", Dar said.