National Conference won`t join NDA: Sheikh Mustafa Kamal

National Conference leader Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, who is younger brother of party president Farooq Abdullah, ruled out his party joining the NDA if the Opposition alliance comes to power at the Centre.

Srinagar: National Conference leader Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, who is younger brother of party president Farooq Abdullah, on Tuesday ruled out his party joining the NDA if the Opposition alliance comes to power at the Centre. He, however, maintained that any decision on the future alliances would be taken by the party high command.

"It is a hypothetical question. In principle, we cannot support the BJP as (its prime ministerial candidate Narendra) Modi is responsible for 2002 Gujarat carnage," Kamal told reporters here. The comment from Kamal came in the backdrop of news reports in local dailies which quoted him as saying that NC will support Modi if the BJP comes to power at the Centre. "The party has left the decision of future alliances to Farooq Abdullah. How can I even comment on these issues when the party has already authorised the president on the matter? Even the Chief Minister has said this," he said. The NC leader said the NDA Government in 2000 had also trashed the unanimous resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly seeking restoration of the autonomy to the state. Terming the BJP and Modi divisive, he alleged that the Opposition`s Prime Ministerial candidate`s election campaign began with riots in Uttar Pradesh. "Only a secular alliance like the UPA, of which we are a part, can lead the country as vast and diverse as India on the path of development and prosperity," Kamal said. Kamal said his party may have differences with the UPA, particularly Congress, but those differences can be sorted out through dialogue and negotiations between the coalition partners.