PM Modi hits out at Omar Abdullah over his separate PM for Kashmir statement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday hit out at National Conference leader Omar Abdullah over his reported statement seeking a separate Prime Minister for Kashmir, and asked the Congress-led opposition alliance to make their stand clear on his statement.

Narendra Modi (Source: PTI)

HYDERABAD: Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said he will work to restore the titles 'Wazir-e-Azam' (Prime Minister) and 'Sadr-e-Riyasat' (head of state) in Jammu and Kashmir, triggering reactions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who asked the Congress-led opposition alliance to make their stand clear on his statement. Addressing an election rally in Hyderabad, Modi said there were media reports that Omar Abdullah has stated that there should be a separate Prime Minister for Kashmir. "Two Prime Ministers for Hindustan?, Do you agree with it? Congress has to answer and all the 'Mahagathbandhan' partners have to answer. What are the reasons and how dare he say that", he said. "Do you accept this demand by an ally of the Congress? Will any Indian accept this?" he asked. Modi said he also wants to ask Trinamool Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar whether they agreed with Omar Abdullah's statement. "I want to ask Bengal Didi who shouts a lot, please answer this to the people of the nation. NC is your friend. There is one U-turn Babu in AP. This U-turn (Chandrababu) Babu, with whom Farooq Abdullah campaigned recently in Andhra Pradesh, should also answer. Do you think Naidu should get votes?" "I want to ask Sharad Pawar also. You were once the Defence Minister of this country and also Chief Minister of Maharashtra. You want take the country back to 1953 ? and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, whose son is Karnataka CM, should also answer to the people of Karnataka. Would you like to go with them (Mahagathbandhan) or break away from them?", Modi asked. Modi alleged that a parliamentary candidate of the National Conference had raised pro-Pakistan slogans a couple of days ago but the Congress and the National Conference kept quiet. Modi alleged that this mentality of dividing the country caused huge damage to India. "This mentality of the Congress strengthened the anti-national forces. Because of the mentality they raise questions on air strikes and surgical strikes and it was because of this mentality they met the Chinese envoy during Doklam standoff." (With inputs from agencies)