Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday has put the ball in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s court over the government formation in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We need tangible confidence building measures to be taken by the central government to give the new government in J&K a fillip. Centre needs to create an environment to infuse confidence. And unless that happens, we cannot move forward,” Mehbooba told reporters after meeting Jammu and Kashmir governor NN Vohra in Jammu.
Elaborating, she said, if a government is to be formed in the state, it will have to take tangible measures to address the causes of alienation, trust and development deficit in Jammu and Kashmir and work towards finding a long-lasting solution to the problem plaguing the state for the past more than six decades.
For the first time since the demise of her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, PDP president spoke publicly and cleared the stand on the alliance with BJP and the government formation in Jammu and Kashmir.
“My party wants a government in Jammu and Kashmir not for power but for inspiring confidence among the people, about its ability to solve the multiple problems faced by the State on political, economic, administrative and financial fronts,” she said.
Mehbooba said Jammu and Kashmir is different state and there are different challenges unlike other states where there is government, opposition and other administrative problems.
“In J&K we have to fight so many forces. And to fight these forces and stable the situation it is important that our country’s government stands behind us like a rock and solve the problems of Jammu and Kashmir,” she said.
Mehbooba regretted that Centre did not support Mufti Mohommad Sayeed the way PDP was expecting during the last 10 months of rule in J&K.
“Despite having taken a huge political risk of going against the public sentiment in Kashmir by aligning with BJP, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was virtually made to run from the pillar to post by New Delhi to get even the constitutionally guaranteed funds for the development of the State,” she said.
Mehbooba noted that the credibility and stature of Mufti Sahab was such that despite facing enormous resource constraints and frequent unsettling issues, he kept the things moving on the governance and development fronts.
“Although PDP faced various challenges in the 10 months of its alliance with BJP, unfortunately, Mufti Sahab’s resolute decision was not reciprocated by the Central Government, the way he expected it to be,”she lamented.
Mehbooba minced no words in admitting that she was lacking experience like her father but noted that she believes in her father’s commitment and conviction
“May be I don’t have that goodwill and experience. I do not have that vision under which Mufti joined hands with BJP. Mufti used to say I did not join hands with Modiji but with crores of people who elected him. He had expectation from Modi government and entire country that we will work together to take J&K out of the troubles. He did not think about electoral politics, party or himself,” she said.
BJP leaders however played safe seeking 10 days time from the governor to sort out differences with PDP over the government formation.
“There is constitutional requirement that PDP needs to elect its leader of the legislature and inform the governor,” said Nirmal Singh, former deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader after meeting with governor.