BJP vows to win in Kashmir, asks Omar to quit

BJP president Amit Shah Monday vowed to lead his party to victory in coming elections in Jammu and Kashmir, and asked Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to quit.

"I have come here to ensure public support to get 44 seats in the state assembly and I am sure we will get that," Shah thundered at a public rally at Kathua town, 90 km from Jammu city.

"The next government in Jammu and Kashmir will be ours," he added to loud applause and cheering.

The BJP president, a confidant of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also said that India would give "a befitting reply" to Pakistan for its frequent violations of the 2003 ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir.

At the same time, he questioned Abdullah's right to criticise the central government over these violations.

Taking strong exception to Abdullah's taunt that the BJP's victory in general elections had led to resumed fighting on the Kashmir border, Shah said: "I want to tell Abdullah that if there is shelling from Pakistan, our government will give a befitting reply."

Saying the people of the country were with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP president said the National Conference-led government had no right to stay in power.

Alluding to the Abdullah family, Shah appealed to the people of the state to end dynastic rule in Kashmir.

Shah blamed the state government for mishandling the clashes during this year's Amarnath Yatra.

Senior Congress leader and two-time Lok Sabha member Choudhary Lal Singh joined the BJP at Amit Shah's Kathua rally.