The BJP on Friday hit out at National Conference chief Farooq Abduallh over his remarks to grant autonomy to Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir regions if his party comes to power in the state.

Mr Abdullah had on Thursday promised regional autonomy if his party comes to power in Jammu and Kashmir after next year’s assembly election.

“I want to make a promise that God willing if we form the next government, we will bring a resolution to grant autonomy to the three regions (within 30 days),” Mr Abdullah said, as he welcomed expelled BJP leader and former MLA Gagan Bhagat into the National Conference.

Reacting to Abdullah’s comments, State Bharatiya Janata Party Chief Spokesperson Sunil Sethi in Jammu said, “Farooq Abdullah has tried to mislead Jammuites and create confusion and discord in peace loving people of Jammu belonging to different religious and ethnic groups by promising greater autonomy to Jammu in case National Conference comes to power in next elections.”

“By making such a statement the real face of communal approach of the National Conference has come in open,” he added.

Mr Sethi said that National Conference wants to divide the people of Jammu Province in regional sub groups to create sub regions of Muslim majority by creating mistrust and hatred between people who have always lived in complete harmony.

Abdullah on Friday had said that regional autonomy is necessary in the state as the nature of the regions drastically differs from one another.

“I have talked about regional autonomy because the three regions in J&K — Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh — are totally different from each other. So regional autonomy is required so that the people living there do not feel that area is suppressing the other area,” the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said.

Abdullah had said he would bring a resolution for autonomy in the state assembly within 30 days of forming the government.

When asked whether his party would join hands with People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to form government in the coming election, he said he is looking to have a majority in the state so that the government can deliver.

“I would love to have a majority to form government in Kashmir. If it does not happen, then we can think about other options. Today we are looking for single party government so that it can deliver. When I came to power on our own in 1996, I was able to bring major developments to the Valley without anybody’s interference,” he said.

Pointing out that economic development and employment is extremely necessary to reinstate peace in the Valley and bring the youth of Kashmir away from violence, Abdullah said if voted to power, his government would ensure investment-friendly policies.

(With agency inputs)