National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah on Saturday spoke on the need for stronger states for a strong nation.

He is on a two-day visit to West Bengal. Addressing a conference in Kolkata on Saturday, Omar said the current problems of the Indian Union could be traced back to states weakened in the recent past.

“A strong Union is required for a strong country but a strong Union can’t come at the cost of the states. Where does it say that for a strong Union you have to have weak states?” he said.

“You only have a strong Union if you have strong states,” stressed Omar, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.

Pointing at the Naxal-hit states as well as Jammu-Kashmir, he said the security situation in these states had held back the nation from progressing the way it should have.

“Today India isn’t as strong as it could be as we’re facing problems in numerous states – Maoist insurgency in parts of country, problems in north-east or J-K. States that have been weakened have held Union back from progressing the way we ought to have done,” he said at the event.

Commenting on the situation in Jammu-Kashmir, which has been under Governor’s Rule since 20 June, Abdullah said had the agreement with the Indian government and people of the state been honoured, Pakistan wouldn’t have got a chance to create problems.

“History is full of questions but if we had respected the agreement entered into with Union and people of J-K after accession in 1947, we wouldn’t be dealing with alienated and bloodied J-K where our neighbour has found it so easy to make lives difficult for us,” he said.

Following the event, Abdullah also fielded questions from the media on the formation of a ‘federal front’ to take on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2019. He said unless the Congress agreed to fight the BJP in the way “we hope”, there was no chance in the success of a grand alliance.

Calling the formation an “ongoing conversation”, Abdullah said Sonia Gandhi had made efforts to bring all parties together.

“As we get closer to the general election in 2019 I’m sure it’ll take on a greater shape,” said Abdullah.

The NC leader had on Friday, 28 July, met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to explore the possibility of forming a grand alliance of anti-BJP parties.

Hailing Mamata’s support to the people of J-K, Abdullah said that there was “situation of fear” in the country.

“No discussion would be complete without a discussion on the prevailing situation in the country; the fear that prevails within the minority communities,” he said referring to the numerous cases of lynchings of members of minority communities.

Read More: Omar Abdullah bats for ‘federal front’ with Mamata Banerjee to take on BJP in 2019

He added that there was a “need to put together a united front and take on the BJP in the forthcoming general elections”.

But when asked who would be the face of a federal front, Abdullah said it was too early to comment and that main objective was to fight the BJP.

“Abhi to humne parche bhi nahi bhare, na koi tareekh aayi hai. Abhi se kaha se pradhan mantri pad ki baat hone lagi, (We have not even filed our nomination papers and neither has any date been announced. How can we talk about PM’s post?)” Abdullah told reporters.