PTI
NEW DELHI, March 22
Deadlock over government formation in Jammu and Kashmir seems to have ended with PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti today calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a meeting which she described as “very positive” and “good” in addressing issues pertaining to the people of the state.
Mehbooba drove to the Prime Minister’s residence this morning barely three days after PDP and BJP had hit a road block with BJP’s chief interlocutor Ram Madhav announcing that his party would not be accepting any fresh demands from its erstwhile ally PDP. Emerging after a 30-minute-long meeting with the Prime Minister, Mehbooba said she had a “very positive and a good meeting” with him.
“We are seeing a stalemate for last two to three months over government formation in the state but today I am satisfied. I am very satisfied,” she told reporters here.
To a question whether the stalemate has ended, she said, “When you meet the Prime Minister of the country, naturally the solution to the problems faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir is more clear“.
She will be flying back to Srinagar where she will brief her party legislators on Thursday. “I had been authorised by the party MLAs to take a decision. I have convened a meeting on Thursday and after that we will announce the future course of action.”
On government formation in the state, she said, “As I said I will talk to my MLAs because that is the forum. This is not the place. There is a particular place to make such anouncements. I will go back to Srinagar and take the next step.”
Mehbooba attempted to “test waters” in Kashmir Valley, says Congress
Congress on Tuesday hit out at PDP, calling the delay in government formation in Jammu and Kashmir an attempt by the party to “test waters” in the Valley, and asked Mehbooba Mufti to clarify what “new” confidence building measures (CBM) have been agreed upon between PDP and BJP.
“It was all a drama enacted by PDP over the issue of confidence building measures as a condition before BJP, to be taken ahead of government formation. It was aimed to test waters in Kashmir Valley where they have lost their ground,” J&K Congress Chief G.A. Mir said.
He asked PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti to clarify the confidence building measures which have been agreed upon with BJP, over which she had delayed government formation in Jammu and Kashmir for over two months.
“She (Mehbooba Mufti) was instrumental in imposition of Governor’s rule, she owes an explanation to the people of the state as to what new things she has been granted by the BJP-led central government over which she delayed the government formation for two-and-a-half months,” he said.
The JKCC leader said that the new government to be formed would be “no different” from the one under Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and the only change will be in chief ministership.
“BJP has already cleared its stand that PDP will have the chief minister and the government will be formed as per Agenda of Alliance, what new things she has got,” Mr. Mir asked.
“We will wait and watch for her to speak on what she was promised or granted by the BJP government apart from Agenda of Alliance,” Mr. Mir said.
He said that BJP also created a drama with their statements that no fresh conditions would be accepted from PDP but ultimately they will be forming the government with PDP along with additional conditions.
