Don't bulldoze regional parties in J&K: Congress to BJP

New Delhi: Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday asked BJP not to indulge in "arm-twisting" tactics and be "insensitive" while "bulldozing" its way on government formation in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The way BJP is bulldozing itself on regional parties in Jammu and Kashmir and that's just being insensitive towards the mandate and people of Jammu and Kashmir," Azad, who is Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, told mediapersons in New Delhi.

"The tall claims made by the BJP about the popular vote is negated by the fact that it has been rejected by two divisions of the state -- Kashmir and Ladakh -- which has not returned a single MLA of that party," he said.

The senior Congress leader said his party had made an offer to the PDP for its support and the ball was in its court. "We have not asked anything in return from PDP. Mufti (Mohammed Sayeed) is a seasoned politician and I hope he will take a right decision at right time," he said.

He reminded that in 2002, government formation had taken 22 days. "There is still time left for the present Assembly to expire so there is no need to hurry," he said.

Azad also asked BJP to refrain from polarisation of states like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and in the northeast. "These states are sensitive -- religious as well as geographical wise. It took 67 years for people in Kashmir to digest Congress policies. Does BJP think that it will be acceptable to Kashmiris overnight? That's what I call being insensitive," he said.

BJP should refrain from becoming like "Alexander, who wanted to conquer the entire world, and rather step aside and focus on better government in the country than pursuing its perceived goal of saffronisation of the country," he said.

Asked about talks taking place between BJP and PDP, Azad said he would not like to comment on media reports but reiterated his statement that if National Conference or PDP joins BJP, they will be "obliterated from the political scene of the Kashmir Valley".

To a question about the dilemma on part of the PDP that if it does not tie up with BJP, it may end up facing acute fund crunch, Azad laughed and said, "We live in a democracy and such things are only figment of imagination."