Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said he would prefer to step down rather than ally with the BJP for the sake of restoring statehood to the Union Territory.
Addressing a gathering in Achabal, Anantnag, Abdullah stressed that he was unwilling to compromise politically on the issue.
“If you are ready for such a compromise, tell me, because I am not. If bringing the BJP into the government is the price, then accept my resignation and make any other MLA the chief minister,” he said.
He acknowledged that an alliance with the BJP might have expedited the restoration of statehood but made it clear he was against the idea.
“There was a chance that including the BJP in the government could have won us statehood sooner, but I was not willing to trade principles for that,” Abdullah added.
