Srinagar: The National Conference on Saturday flayed the BJP for promising abrogation of Article 370 in its poll manifesto, saying "it is not within the power of anybody" to do away with the constitutional provision guaranteeing special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
"It is not easy to abrogate Article 370. It is a constitutional matter and BJP has always lied in this connection," Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told reporters in Srinagar.
He said whichever party forms government at the Centre, "it is not within the power of anybody to abrogate constitutional guarantees".
NC General Secretary Sheikh Nazir Ahmad said Article 370 serves as a "bridge" between Srinagar and New Delhi and any attempt to remove it would affect the relations.
Terming BJP's promise as "outrageous", he said Article 370 serves as "a stamp on the temporary accession of Jammu and Kashmir with India entered into by the then Maharaja. Those who want to lessen its importance or talk of its revocation are playing with the interests of the country as well as aspirations of the people of the state."
He said NC will not allow anybody to "disrespect" the Article and is ready to render any sacrifice for its retention in original form.