Heated exchange between political parties ahead of polls

Jammu/Kolkata / Siliguri, Apr 15 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah lauded Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for his deft handling of the November 26 Mumbai terror attacks and his diplomatic skills in preventing the situation in the aftermath of the attacks from worsening.

"I know how some people were trying to build pressure on Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi after the Mumbai terror attacks. People were saying that there should be a war like situation and threat must be given to Pakistan. Pressure was being built to restart shelling in the Kashmir valley. But, Manmohan Singh didn't come under pressure as he knew that these bullets would only harm his own people that is the people of Kashmir," said Abdullah.

Political parties have been involved in heated exchange ahead of the general elections.

In Kolkata, Prakash Karat, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India-Marxist refuted reports that they could have a post-poll alliance with the Congress party.

"There is no question of having an understanding with the Congress party. We are working for the non-Congress and non-BJP government. All nine parties which worked together have declared that we are working to form a non- Congress and non-BJP government," said Karat.

Meanwhile in Darjeeling hills, which has witnessed agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland, BJP candidate Jaswant Singh slammed the Left Front Government for opposing theemand.

"The West Bengal Government's stand on Gorkhaland issue is wrong. The apprehension that a separate state of Gorkhaland will divide the state is wrong. The people sitting in the government and the Communists are taking this issue with a different perspective. I am here only to provide support to your demand..." he said.

Many regional groups have been demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland to be carved out of West Bengal.

An agreement was signed in 1988 for setting up the Autonomous Darjeelingorkha Hill Council (ADGHC) in 1988 but since early 2008, a breakaway factionf the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) has revived the agitation. (ANI)