"Political stalemate in the wake of a fractured mandate during the highly polarised Assembly elections has established the fact that only secular forces can pull the diverse regions of Jammu and Kashmir together as a strong and vibrant single entity," NC General Secretary Ali Mohammed Sagar said.
"The reactionary and divisive forces might have got away with polarising and vitiating the democratic process but the damage done in the process has put the state at a crossroads," Sagar said addressing a meeting of party functionaries from Doda and Ramban districts at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here.
Sagar said the mandate has put PDP and BJP in a dilemma as the people have realised the sinister game plan of dividing the regions on religious lines to remain glued to power.
The PDP leadership, he said, has changed colours more frequently than chameleon during the past six decades and hoisted itself on the people in a different avatar to hoodwink the public opinion. "In the enthusiastic pursuit of grabbing power, they employed all tactics to hoodwink public opinion and mislead them during the elections," he said.
"We may not have fared well but National Conference did not compromise on its principled stand of upholding secular values and maintaining the single entity of the state," he said, adding that Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah's cherished slogan of 'Hindu, Muslim, Sikh Unity' will remain guiding force for the party and its cadre.