Farooq rules out truck with BJP for 2008 JK polls

Srinagar, May 7: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has dismissed as ''baseless propaganda'' media reports suggesting that his National Conference would align with the BJP for the 2008 Assembly elections in the state.

Talking to journalists here, he blamed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for spreading such ''baseless propaganda'' and asked party patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed to desist from making such allegations against the NC or be ready to face the consequences.

Dr Abdullah said the NC was neither aligning with the BJP nor getting closer to the Congress. ''We are with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The NC is the party of the people of the state. The NC's popularity displayed by huge attendance in its recent public meetings has set alarm bells ringing for the PDP,'' he added.

The NC patron said as such they (PDP leaders) were now levelling accusations against his party.

He also accused PDP president Mehboba Mufti of being ''a step ahead of her father'' in levelling allegations against the NC.

Dr Abdullah also ruled out any immediate plans to retire from active politics, and asserted that he would participate in the next Assembly elections in the state.

UNI