Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari today met PDP president Mehbooba Mufti to condole the death of her father and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
Gadkari visited the Fairview residence in the posh Gupkar road area in Srinagar to express solidarity with Mehbooba on behalf of the Union Government and the BJP.
He dropped the hint that Narendra Modi government would fulfil the dreams which the late Chief Minister had about Kashmir.
Mehbooba is set to succeed her father as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, but has refused to take oath of office before she overcomes the shock of Mufti’s death and comes out of mourning.
“I have come here to express condolences on behalf of the Government of India and the party. I feel that today is not the day to talk about politics,” Gadkari told waiting journalists after meeting Mehbooba.
Gadkari was accompanied by former Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh and state BJP president Sat Paul Sharma. He arrived at Mufti’s residence at 3.57 pm and came out of the house at 4.11 pm.
Earlier, when Sonia Gandhi arrived, she was received and ushered in by senior PDP leader Tariq Hamid Karra, with PDP MLAs remaining present.
However, by the time the BJP delegation arrived, most PDP leaders had gone. When BJP leaders met Mehbooba to express condolences, no other PDP leader was present in the room, sources said.
Mehbooba received the BJP leaders in the room in which her father used to meet visitors. During the meeting, Mehbooba did not occupy the black sofa on which her father used to sit.
“I had a meeting with Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in New Delhi earlier when he had invited me to lunch. That meeting lasted over half an hour,” Gadkari said, recalling his earlier interactions with the late Chief Minister.
“He talked about his dreams about Kashmir and its people. We talked about issues ranging from politics and development to tourism and infrastructure development. He was happy with the discussions we had. He later asked Mehbooba to meet me as he had many dreams,” he recalled.
“Our government will definitely fulfil the dreams he had,” Gadkari said, dropping a hint about the future relationship the BJP-led government at the Centre and the party would like to have with the PDP.
“The death of Mufti Saheb is definitely a great loss for his family and people of Kashmir. I talked to Mehbooba in detail. I said to her that may the Almighty grant her courage and strength,” Gadkari said.
He parried questions over government formation and whether the BJP had suggested any dates for the oath-taking ceremony.
Gadkari meets Mehbooba, hints Centre will fulfil Mufti’s dreams
