NC on ventilator, expansion will split party: Sunil Sharma

Srinagar, May 9: Leader of the Opposition (LoP) and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sunil Sharma on Saturday alleged that the National Conference (NC) is "on a ventilator" due to an internal "disease" and warned that any "expansion" would lead to a vertical split in the party.

Speaking to news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS), the senior BJP leader claimed that only a few individuals, assigned the task of speaking against the BJP, are responsible for infecting the NC's internal health. He linked the recent protests at the NC headquarters, Nawai-e-Subah, to the deepening crisis.

"Whatever happened at the NC headquarters is because of those who have been given the duty to speak against us. That is the reason for that disease," he added.

LoP Sharma asserted that the malady had spread beyond cure. "If they do a small expansion, there will be two outbreaks. The National Conference will be divided into two parts. It will fall like a bag. The disease has gone so deep that they have no cure," he said.

Drawing a parallel with the Shiv Sena's split, he said the party had created the crisis itself. "Two Shiv Senas were made by themselves. No matter how much they try, the house is broken. There is a major hole in it, and at any time you will see that this wall has fallen," Sharma said.

He, however, ruled out any intervention from his side. "Neither do we believe in it," he added.