'Opportunistic' BJP-PDP alliance set fire to Kashmir: Rahul

The damage will continue under president's rule, says the Congress president

[FILE] Congress president Rahul Gandhi | PTI [FILE] Congress president Rahul Gandhi | PTI

Even as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti resigned on Tuesday after the BJP pulled out of the coalition government led by her People's Democratic Party, Congress president Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on both the parties, saying the “opportunistic”alliance had set fire to the state.

“The opportunistic BJP-PDP alliance set fire to J&K, killing many innocent people including our brave soldiers,” Rahul said on Twitter, hours after the saffron party made the announcement.

“It cost India strategically & destroyed years of UPA’s hard work. The damage will continue under President’s rule. Incompetence, arrogance & hatred always fails,” he further said.

Earlier, the Bharatiya Janata Party pulled out of the coalition government, saying it has become impossible to continue in the government in view of the growing radicalism and terrorism in the state.

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said the decision to withdraw was taken after consulting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah.

Soon after the announcement, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti submitted her resignation to Governor N.N. Vohra, and said her party would not go for any other alliance to continue in power.

"I am not shocked. We didn't do this alliance for power," she said, and added that her attempts for dialogue and reconciliation in Kashmir would continue.