Won't ally with BJP for restoration of statehood: J&K CM

The NC leader claimed that a deal with the BJP for the return of statehood is "out of the question", making reference to the negative consequences of the 2015 PDP-BJP alliance.

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"We have already seen how much that (alliance) ruined J&K. It was a useless coalition between the BJP and the PDP in 2015, and we are still reeling from its effects. I have no desire to make the same mistakes that others did," the chief minister told reporters here.

Abdullah also dared the BJP to be open if the restoration of statehood depended on a BJPled government in J&K.

"If so, I believe the BJP should be transparent, and let us know that as long as J-K has a non-BJP government, you will never attain statehood. Then we will see what we can do about it," he said, pointing out that the BJP did not make such a condition in its manifestos or promises to Parliament and the Supreme Court.