Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti submitted her resignation after BJP announced to pull out from the three-year-old alliance.
She said that her Government worked relentlessly to implement the Agenda of Alliance (AoA) that was stitched as a preamble for the coalition Government. Conceding that the alliance was unpopular she said her late father's decision to embrace the BJP in 2014 was taken to sincerely bring about the scenario in the State wherein gaps between the two regions in the State would be bridged in the overall interests of people.
Addressing a press conference at her official residence in Srinagar shortly after submitting her resignation to Governor NN Vohra, Mehbooba unambiguously vouched for reconciliatory approach to deal with the J&K state. She said PDP under the then patron late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed entered into unpopular alliance after much thought. She said the alliance was stitched with the notion that the big party at Centre will help bridging gaps between the Kashmir & Jammu regions.
Interestingly, in the chaotic press conference, Mehboba did not divuge details of the sudden development and why she was caught off guards.
She said PDP stood in alliance for the dialogue, unilateral ceasefire and making sure the Prime Minister has an open route to talk to Pakistan.
Mehbooba talked about PDP's achievements as a lead partner in the coalition government. She said PDP worked hard to safeguard the J&K's Special Status under Article 370 & 35 A. She said PDP ensured withdrawal of 11,000 cases against first time young offenders who were involved in stone pelting in 2016 uprising triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani.
Mehbooba said that the latest “decision of suspension of counter militant operations in Ramadan” was outcome of PDP's efforts that brought much relief to the common people though other side (militants) did not respond positively and ensured failure of unilateral ceasefire. She said peoples' comfort and relief was the premise and conviction to go for “unilateral ceasefire”.
She said PDP will continue to profess and practice healing touch policy with practical measures so that dialogue and reconciliatory process could take out the J&K out of political and socio economic morass.
Mehbooba called for refraining from adopting muscular policy in J&K. She said this will not work in Kashmir while favouring dialogue with Pakistan and the separatists to bring lasting peace and reconciliation in the State. She said PDP dealt with Kathua rape and murder case in an appropriate and desired manner.
Mehbooba said she submitted her resignation to the Governor and conveyed him that PDP was not looking to explore any other alliance. She said PDP suffered on ground in the State on account of stitching unpopular alliance with BJP.