National Conference denies tiff with Congress over ministerial berths

New Delhi, May 22 (ANI): Denying any tiff with the Congress, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said his party was not looking for any ministerial berth in the new government.

The unscheduled departure of National Conference (NC) patron Farooq Abdullah to South Africa today, when the new government will be sworn-in, gave rise to speculation over tiff between the NC leader and the Congress.

However Omar scotched such speculation. He said that his party had given unconditional support to the Congress and though his father had expressed a desire to assume a role in the new government, he had never insisted, and that the decision lies solely with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

"Neither Farooq Abdullah nor anybody in the National Conference is angry or miffed. He has always said that he was ready to assume a role in the new government but, the decision would lie solely with Prime Minister or UPA chairperson. We have not put in any demand from our side," said Omar.

He further said that the main focus of his party and the government lays in working for the development and betterment of Jammu and Kashmir and that of its people and not on securing for himself ministerial posts in new government.

"The ties we have forged are for the betterment and development of Jammu and Kashmir Kashmir has lot of problems of its own and whether a National Conference candidate becomes a minister in New Delhi or not will not have any affect on the people o. They will be affected if we are not able to give a good government to the people. Manmohan Singh had promised us that he will work for Kashmir and we are now waiting for him to assume office so that we can fulfil the promises that we made to the people," he added. (ANI)