I have voted against the BJP-led coalition government today. I have voted according to my conscience.

When in March 1998, the President of the Party, Dr. Farooq Abdullah insisted that I should support the Confidence Motion moved by the Prime Minister Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, I had to issue a strong statement against this direction and reminded the party that it had no mandate to support a party whose basic inspiration and strength came from a rapidly communal and religious organisation like the RSS. I had also argued with the party that the National Conference had opposed the BJP's manifesto at the hustings and it had no justification, whatsoever, to support the BJP-led coalition. Thereupon, the party working committee had met and decided to abstain from the voting and had also requested me to be in the party. I had accepted the proposition.

Similarly on the Government's resolution, seeking ratification of the Lok Sabha for dismissal of Rabri Devi Government ... On the Motion of Confidence ... Dr. Abdullah adopted a dangerous course of not consulting the Working Committee and did not appreciate my earnest plea that the party could have at best abstained to avoid public resentment ...

I had no option left. I decided to vote as I did. My vote represents the will of the people of Kashmir who have always stood for Secularism.