'Had feared BJP will work for abrogation of Article 370'

Ruling National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said the party's apprehensions about the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government working towards abrogation of Article 370 have come true.

Addressing a convention of NC youth activists, Abdullah said he had apprehensions that if the BJP came to power, it will work towards abrogation of Article 370.

He told the gathering that during electioneering, he had warned people of BJP's designs of removing the Article of the Constitution, which guarantees special status to Jammu and Kashmir, party sources said.

They said the NC president blamed the lack of discipline among party leaders and workers and the disconnect between the party and the people as the main reasons for the defeat in the Lok Sabha in which all the party candidates, including Abdullah, lost.

Abdullah told the activists that there was disconnect between the people and the party members. He said the party is not run from the comfort of homes but the leaders have to connect with the people and listen to them.

The sources said the former Union minister told the meeting "though it was good that young people had taken important positions in the party, the old guard must not be sidelined and their advice be taken from time to time".

They said Abdullah hinted at restructuring the party and advised the youth to visit party offices with their issues and bring them to the notice of the party leadership.

Abdullah also said introspection would be done in each assembly constituency.