PDP to support NC in RS polls; 'must keep BJP away,' says Mehbooba

The People's Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday announced its support to the ruling National Conference, saying it wanted to keep the ''fascist forces'' out.

The first Rajya Sabha polls since Jammu and Kashmir's downgrading to a Union territory status are scheduled for Friday.

''We have decided to give support to the NC and vote for their candidates,'' party chief Mehbooba Mufti said at a press conference.

The decision has been taken to keep the BJP away, she said.

''The PDP, which has three votes, will vote to keep the BJP away and vote for such a party which does not deserve it. We will vote keeping in mind that we have to stop the fascist and communal forces at any cost,'' Mehbooba asserted.

''But these people (NC) do not think like that. When the PAGD was created, we wanted to give a collective leadership to J-K so as to fight the BJP and its onslaught. But, they broke it when they realised it does not serve them any benefit,'' she said, referring to the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) — a collective of political outfits seeking restoration of special status.

The PAGD was cobbled up by several mainstream political parties, including the NC and PDP, in Kashmir in October 2020 in the aftermath of the Centre's abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.

''Today, when it is a part of the India alliance, it (NC) kept Congress away from the Rajya Sabha. They do not deserve our trust or votes, but for the larger cause, we have decided to vote (for NC),'' the PDP chief added.

Mehbooba said that the decision to support the NC was made after a discussion with the party's leadership and its MLAs on the NC's request for support in the Rajya Sabha election.

She said NC president Farooq Abdullah had spoken to her over the phone, requesting her party's support.

On Wednesday, NC's Rajya Sabha candidate and party treasurer G S Oberoi, also known as Shammi Oberoi, met Mehbooba at her residence here to seek support.

Mehbooba said her party's support has been given on the condition that the NC will support the bills brought by PDP MLAs — the Land Regularisation Bill and the Regularisation of Daily Wagers Bill -- in the Assembly.

''I told Farooq (Abdullah) to help us in passing our bills. They have the majority, the Speaker and the assembly are theirs,'' she said.

The PDP chief said when her party talked about the Land Regularisation Bill, Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, a BJP MLA, ''threatened us and said they will see how this bill is tabled. He had described the bill as land jihad.'' ''I hope the NC, which has in a way given assurance, as Oberoi has stated, (chief minister) Omar (Abdullah) has stated that they will not obstruct any pro-people bill, will support these bills,'' she said.

''We hope the bills are passed in the assembly,'' she added.

The PDP president also said her party will support the NC on the third seat and not the fourth seat.

''We have three votes, which are very less, but mean a lot. We want to give our votes for the third preference (candidate) to Shammi Oberoi. We do not want to give support to the fourth candidate because if they lose the fourth seat, they will blame the PDP for that,'' she said.

She said the NC can divert its votes for the fourth seat.

On the bills brought by her party MLAs, she asserted that the ball was in the court of the ruling party.

''Whether it is the land rights bill or the daily wagers bill, if it (NC) does not decide on it in the assembly, then its decision will be taken in the people's court,'' she said.

Referring to Sharma's threat of blocking the bill, Mehbooba expressed hope that Omar Abdullah will counter the BJP's agenda.

''I hope he ensures the bill comes up in the assembly and is passed. If he does not do that, then the people will have to decide who enforces the BJP's agenda in J-K,'' she said.

Mehbooba said if her party's bills are kept away, ''It would then mean that Sharma's threat is being implemented by the NC.''