Kashmir: Lone does not rule out post-poll alliance with BJP

New Delhi, Nov 11 :

Ex-separatist and People’s Conference leader Sajjad Lone Monday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and did not rule out a tie-up with BJP after the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, he lavished praise on Modi, describing him “a great human being” and said it seemed to him as if he was talking to his elder brother.

Lone said he had met Modi about demands concerning Jammu and Kashmir including that for relief in the wake of floods in the valley.

“I met Prime Minister Modi as a Kashmiri and discussed the relief work for people who suffered in the Kashmir flood. I had a list of demands that was discussed. There was nothing political,” he said.

The meeting with Modi comes after Lone had consultations with Bharatiya Janata Party leaders including Ram Madhav.

During the meeting, Lone demanded inclusion of Srinagar in the ‘Smart City’ project of the government and sought better connectivity of north Kashmir to improve tourism prospects there.

“The prime minister’s response was very positive…some of the issues discussed were investment in tourism, infrastructure, trade and hospitals, which is very important for the Valley,” Lone said.

Lone said Modi told him that steps would be taken to make Kashmir a great tourist destination.

Asked if his party will tie up with BJP after the elections, Lone said “it wil be seen after the elections”.

He also said that there was nuanced difference in positions of BJP and Congress on Kashmir and he was not a “prisoner of the mindseta that one is good and the other bad.

Jammu and Kashmir will go for five phase election Nov 25-Dec 20.

(IANS)