Omar Abdullah says Narendra Modi is no Vajpayee
Omar, who was a minister in the NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, said he did not see Vajpayee's image on Modi's face.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Wednesday that it would be easier for him to work with a UPA or a Third Front government at the Centre than an NDA government.
Omar was speaking to Aaj Tak when he was asked whether he would be able to work with BJP's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi if he assumed power.
Omar, who was a minister in the NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, said he did not see Vajpayee's image on Modi's face. "I have worked with Vajpayee for three years. I don't even see a glimpse of him on Modi's face, let alone his image," the J&K chief minister added.
Noting that Modi was talking about doing away with Article 370 of the Constitution which gives a special status to Jammu and Kashmir and of attacking Pakistan, Omar said, "What can be expected from him?" Downplaying the threats from separatists asking people to boycott the polls, the J& K chief minister said while the workers of his party were the ones who were being targeted, it was the Opposition PDP which was benefiting from such calls.
"Our workers are present in every village. We don't benefit from such boycotts. It is the PDP which benefits from such calls," he said.
Noting that his government had started secret talks with separatists and held a few rounds, Omar said the UPA government was prepared to talk peace but it was the separatists who were not coming on the negotiating table.
The Jammu and Kashmir chief minister also said that the separatists should not expect that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would start talking to them directly. "They keep talking to the officials of the Pakistan High Commission. Why can't they talk to our officials?" he asked.
Omar denied reports that either he or his father Farooq Abdullah were campaigning for the UPA across the country.
"Farooq sahab 's age does not permit him to campaign for anyone across the country. We are busy managing the election and hope to win maximum seats for the UPA," he said.
Omar also said it was sad that the Muslims have no national leader and that the community was in disarray, adding that besides the minority votes, politics was being played in the name of Dalits and Hindus.
"Issues such as temples, Uniform Civil Code are being raised. Politics over Hindus and Dalits is being also played," Omar said.