PDP president Mehbooba Mufti today hinted at re-stitching alliance with the BJP to form the next government in Jammu and Kashmir.
“You should have faith in God and then in the decision of Mufti Saheb. As a (party) president I know the issues of Kashmir, whatever will be the decision that will be for the welfare of J&K and for the country’s welfare,” Mehbooba said in her first public address after the death of her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on January 7.
“J&K will be made a bridge between the two countries (India and Pakistan),” she said.
Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the PDP chief said: “Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his 10-year tenure could not show courage to visit Pakistan. But Modiji with a huge mandate decided on one evening to visit Pakistan and next day he had tea there. Earlier, BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee, when militancy was at its peak in Kashmir, went with a bus to Lahore.”
Mehbooba termed Mufti Sayeed’s decision to shake hands with the BJP to form government in J&K in March last year a “big sacrifice”, but said her father wanted to end political uncertainty in the state. “Many people criticised Mufti Saheb for the decision. They told him that it would cost him in next Assembly elections in 2020. But he (Mufti Sayeed) said he had not done it for electoral gains. He said he had decided to join hands with BJP to end the sufferings of people and put J&K on a path of development,” Mehbooba said.
The PDP president said her father believed that Modi with a huge mandate could take J&K out of political uncertainty if he (Sayeed) was able to convince him that India and Pakistan had to work together for the welfare of J&K and the entire the sub-continent.
She said her father would repeatedly say “there was no other option than to form the government with the BJP”.
Mehbooba said Mufti Sayeed joined hands with the BJP to end the trust deficit between New Delhi and Kashmir. “Kashmiris have grown skeptical of everything that is coming from New Delhi. Kashmiris doubt Delhi and Delhi doubt’s Kashmiris. To end this trust deficit Mufti Saheb gave the sacrifice,” Mehbooba said.
The PDP and BJP had last week started talks over government formation in J&K, which is presently under the Governor’s rule. BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav had met Mehbooba, who is likely to be the next Chief Minister of the state, at her Fairview residence at the Gupkar Road here.
Mehbooba, however, said if joining hands with the BJP would help fulfil the dream of her late father, then only she would embrace the party.
“If we feel that this chair will fulfil the dream of Mufti Saheb and J&K will become bridge between India and Pakistan, then only this chair is worth to hold. If hostilities between India and Pakistan continue, then this chair is not worth,” she said.
Later, talking to mediapersons, Mehbooba avoided direct questions on the outcome of her meeting with Ram Madhav. “I think that is something only time will tell,” she said.
The PDP president, who is leaving for New Delhi on Monday, said she was going to attend the Parliament session that starts from February 23. “I am going to Delhi to attend the Parliament session to seek answers to some questions. We are seeing unfortunate things going on across the country like Haryana Jat agitation and JNU stir,” she said.
Situation in Kashmir
Mehbooba said her party would continue to strive to end bloodshed in Kashmir.
In an apparent reference to Burhan Wani, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander and poster boy of new age militancy in Kashmir, Mehbooba said: “There is a boy who is a militant. I won’t name him, (but) his sister got a position in Class XII examination. This is the story of one family. Tral and Pulwama registered the highest number of militant incidents, but most positions were secured by students from these places. These are two faces of Kashmir…,” Mehbooba said.
Mehbooba praises Modi, hints at forming govt with BJP
