Jammu: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti today toughened her stand on the issue of continuing the party's alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state, saying that the central government needed to undertake some confidence-building measures for the region before the formation of government in Jammu and Kashmir. She was speaking to journalists after meeting the state Governor N N Vohra over the formation of government in the state.
“Before formation of new J&K government, I want the central government to take some confidence building measures for the region,” Mehbooba Mufti said after the meeting.
J&K Governor Vohra had earlier written to both partners of the PDP-BJP alliance seeking a clarification on their stand on government formation in the state. Jammu and Kashmir has been under central rule following the death of Chief Minister and Mehbooba Mufti's father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. There has been uncertainty over the formation of government in the state ever since the former CM's demise on January 7.
Talking to reporters after meeting Vohra, Mehbooba said the state, which is different from others, needs a "good atmosphere, space and a fillip" if a new government is to be formed. She said her late father Mufti Sayeed, without bothering about his "political career", had aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the hope that the Centre will bring out the state from the difficult situation it is in.
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"Jammu and Kashmir is a different state, there are different challenges. In Jammu and Kashmir, there are several forces which need to be tackled. We need the Centre to be fully with us," she said, without ealborating on the measures that she wants the Centre to take.
Though both the BJP and the PDP have maintained that they are committed to the vision for the state laid down in the form of the common minimum programme of the state government chalked out last year during government formation, there have been signs of a rift between the two parties, leading to uncertainty.
The PDP is said to be unhappy about fund flow from Delhi not turning up as promised. According to PDP sources, the party wants a written assurance from PM Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah on supporting PDP's stand on issues such as Article 370 and the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
Speaking to reporters today, the PDP chief indicated that she wasn't too willing to take up the mantle as J&K chief minister either. “I don't have that vision which Mufti sahab had, neither do I have the experience right now,” Mehbooba Mufti said after meeting the Governor.
Prior to the meeting, BJP's three-member panel from its state's core group yesterday rushed to New Delhi and held consultations with central leadership before meeting the Governor to discuss government formation. The BJP is expected to put forth its views before the Governor when its representatives meet him later today over the formation of government in the state.
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(With PTI inputs)
