Jammu, May 25 (PTI): Opposition National Conference today asked the ruling coalition partner Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) to clear its stand on the issue of the abrogation of the Article 370, the issue which has been raised by BJP.

"In the wake of renewed rhetoric over Article 370 after flapping stance during elections, NC posed a direct question to PDP that what was PDP's call on the coalition partner seeking abrogation of constitutional guarantee to Jammu and Kashmir," NC Provincial President Devender Singh Rana said.

He said there was strong suspicion about PDP having entered into a deal with BJP over this sensitive issue.

"NC's apprehensions, PDP was taking a lead role in weakening the special status, were proving right as the two coalition partners were just playing a 'fixed match' to make PDP relevant in Kashmir scenario so that decks are cleared for abrogation of this special provision, which is the only strong link between the state and the Indian domain," Rana said.

He claimed that Article 370 stands custodian of the legitimate rights of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.

"Those crying hoarse over it were actually creating confusion to proceed ahead in their sinister machinations.

Therefore, it is for the PDP to clarify as to whether it has become a willing partner in BJP's hidden agenda on PDP", he said.

Referring to observations of a senior RSS Pracharak about debate over the efficacy of Article 370, the Provincial President reminded that the NC was, in fact, pioneer of seeking a public discourse on it. He said the Working President Omar Abdullah is on record having offered a debate.

The Provincial President said the BJP has exploited public sentiment, especially in Jammu over Article 370 by pretending to be the "Messihas of Jammuties" and added that the people have now realized that the rhetoric was just to get glued to power.

He said the BJP had been using this Constitutional necessity to hoodwink the people in mistaken belief of their being ignorant or politically naive.