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Shiv Sena, a key ally of the National Democratic Alliance government, on Saturday said that it would strongly oppose Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah's 'bid' to be the next President of India.
"If Farooq is to be made the next President then what is wrong with Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf," Sena chief Bal Thackeray asked sarcastically.
Though the Sena chief's statement has opposed Abdullah's bid for Presidency, it did not reveal the party's strategy for election, to be held in July, to elect the successor to K R Narayanan.
The Sena chief said, "It is believed that Abdullah is also aspiring for the post but I want to declare that under no circumstances he be allowed to become the President."
Sena's opposition to Abdullah was keeping the 'country's interest in mind', the Sena chief said
He flayed the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister for seeking autonomy for the strife-torn border state.
"Pakistan also desires that J&K should be an autonomous state and once Abdullah's demand is fulfilled then valley would soon become an independent nation," Thackeray claimed.
"Our opposition to Abdullah is in the country's interest but if somebody is daring to install him as the President then the post be given to Musharraf, then all questions would be resolved," Sena chief said.
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