Uncertainty prevails in Jammu & Kashmir over the deteriorating health of Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed even as indications have been given to hand over the reins of Government to Mufti’s daughter and MP Mehbooba Mufti who is the head of People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The ruling party’s supporters on Wednesday organised prayer meetings and offered sacrifice of animals for the well-being of Chief Minister, who is on life support in Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for the past 13 days. Mufti was flown to Delhi in the State aircraft on December 24 after developing health complications. He was put on oxygen therapy earlier this week but his condition has not improved. Hospital sources said while the Chief Minister is responding to treatment, he is not communicative. He condition is being referred to as “critical but stable”.
Mufti’s confidant and Education Minister Naeem Akhtar, who is also the spokesman of the PDP-BJP coalition said that rumours about Chief Minister’s deteriorating health were wrong and baseless.
“He (Mufti) is in the same condition as he was yesterday. He has responded to treatment. Some fake accounts on social media are spreading rumours,” Akhtar said over phone from New Delhi. However, Akhtar indicated that in case there was exigency for change of guard in Jammu & Kashmir, there was complete consensus over Mehbooba Mufti to take over as Chief Minister.
“Our first concern is Mufti sahab’s health, not change of guard”, he said adding, “As of now, there is no such move. But, obviously, Mufti Sahab has himself been saying that Mehbooba Mufti is the right person to lead. There is a complete consensus in the party on it because she is the right leader as she represents aspirations of the cadre and is an undisputed leader. She has been voice and faith of the PDP”.
Sources said that a group of ministers from PDP and BJP held a meeting at AIIMS to discuss the prevailing situation.
Sources said that a group of ministers is insisting to nominate Mehbooba Mufti as interim Chief Minister before January 18 when the state legislature has been summoned for budget session ahead of its March schedule. Naeem Akhtar had on Tuesday said that there was still a plenty of time for the commencement of budget session.
The PDP also called senior leader and MP Muzaffar Hussain Beg to New Delhi for deliberations. A senior BJP leader and Minister Ram Prakash Ganga said that his party was not opposed to Mehbooba’s appointment as Chief Minister. “The central leadership will take a final call in this regard”, he said.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh, MOS in PMO Dr Jatendra Singh and a host of central and state level leaders have visited the AIIMS to inquire about the well-being of Chief Minister. Sources said that Mufti’s family members including his wife Gulshan Begum, son Tasaduq Mufti and daughter Mehbooba are attending the ailing Mufti in the Intensive Care Unit.
Meanwhile, special prayers were held by PDP supporters in various parts of south Kashmir. People also offered sacrifices of animals and distributed the meat among needy and passersby.