BJP still in talks with PDP, NC for government formation in JK: Shah

Mumbai, Jan 2: BJP President Amit Shah on Friday said his party has been holding talks with both PDP and NC over government formation in Jammu and Kashmir but there has been no fruitful outcome yet.

"Talks are on with both parties. There has been no fruitful outcome (yet)," he told reporters here, a day after BJP sought more time from Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra in view of the ongoing dialogue with parties.

"We want to form government in Jammu & Kashmir," Shah, who was here to review BJP's membership drive in Maharashtra, said.

The Jammu and Kashmir Governor has set January 19 deadline for formation of the government in the state where PDP has emerged as the largest party with 28 seats in the 87-member Assembly but way short of a majority. BJP is the second largest party with 25 members.

When asked about BJP's impressive showing in the Jammu region but not in the Kashmir Valley, Shah said the party had got 25 seats in the state which was a "sizeable" number.

"Please don't present this in a distorted manner. It would be nice if BJP won all seats it contested in all elections," he said countering criticism over his party's failure to open its account in the Valley.

On the raging row over re-conversions and 'Ghar Wapsi' programmes by right wing Hindu outfits, the BJP chief said the NDA government wants to bring in a law against forcible conversions.

"BJP is against forcible conversions. Once the law is in place, conversions will stop automatically," he said.

On protests against Aamir Khan-starrer 'PK', which has raised the hackles of hardline Hindu outfits, Shah said, "People have the freedom to do so (protest)."

He also expressed confidence that BJP will get a "full majority" in Delhi Assembly polls.

Shah, who was recently discharged by a CBI court in the fake encounter killing cases of gangsters Sohrabuddin Shaikh and Tulsiram Prajapati, refused to comment on the verdict. "I will not comment on this issue, my lawyers and party will," he said.

PTI