Ram Madhav said he wasn't questioning Omar Abdullah's patriotism and didn't mean to "offend" him.

Highlights Ram Madhav suggested Omar Abdullah-PDP tie-up on Pak "instructions"

Mr Abdullah dared the BJP leader to prove his allegation

Mr Madhav tweeted, saying he didn't mean to "offend" Mr Abdullah

After alleging a Pakistani hand in Jammu and Kashmir rivals Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah coming together to try and form government, BJP leader Ram Madhav today waved a white flag. An angry Omar Abdullah had dared him and the central government to prove the allegation. The massive row started with Ram Madhav alleging that Omar Abdullah's National Conference and Mehbooba Mufti's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had joined hands on instructions from "across the border". The BJP leader was justifying Governor Satya Pal Malik's decision to dissolve the Jammu and Kashmir assembly after two alliances staked claim to form government.

"PDP and NC boycotted local body polls last month because they had instructions from across the border. Probably they had fresh instructions from across the border to come together and form government. What they did prompted the governor to look into the whole issue," Mr Madhav told news agency ANI.

Hours later, he tweeted to Omar Abdullah taking back his comments. But not without throwing in a dig.

Just landed@Aizawl n saw this. Now tht u deny any external pressure I take back my comment, bt, now tht u proved it ws genuine love btw NC n PDP tht prompted a failed govt formation attempt,u shud fight nxt elections 2gether. Mind u it's pol comnt,not personal https://t.co/DsOYiwwXmo - Ram Madhav (@rammadhavbjp) November 22, 2018

Omar Abdullah had dared Mr Madhav to prove his allegation, saying agencies like the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), National Investigation Agency and Intelligence Bureau were at his disposal.

"Your allegations are an insult to thousands of my workers... 3,000 workers have sacrificed for this nations. More of my party workers have sacrificed than your party ever has. Don't lecture us on sacrifice and question what we have done," Mr Abdullah said at a press conference in Srinagar, demanding an apology.

"You come along with nothing but baseless allegations and say whatever you like with no evidence of it. If you have guts, prove it."

The two also sparred on Twitter.

I dare you @rammadhavbjp ji to prove your allegation. You have RAW, NIA & IB at your command (CBI too is your parrot) so have the guts to place evidence in the public domain. Either prove this or be man enough to apologise. Don't practice shoot & scoot politics. https://t.co/KEbOo0z6O2 - Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) November 22, 2018

Just take it in your stride @OmarAbdullah Not questioning your patriotism at all. But d sudden love between NC n PDP n d hurry to form government leads to many suspicions n political comments. Not to offend u. https://t.co/4tgbWS7Q3r - Ram Madhav (@rammadhavbjp) November 22, 2018

No, misplaced attempts at humour won't work. You HAVE claimed my party has been acting at the behest of Pakistan. I dare you to prove it! Place the evidence of your allegation of NC boycott of ULB polls at Pak behest in public domain. It's an open challenge to you & your Govt. https://t.co/7cumKwKxuM - Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) November 22, 2018

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik's decision to dissolve the assembly has been questioned by opposition parties who have alleged that he acted after consulting the ruling BJP at the centre. Governor Malik has called the Mehbooba Mufti-Omar Abdullah team an "unholy and opportunistic alliance".