The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday described the decision of its late patriarch Mufti Muhammad Sayeed to align with BJP as pathar ki lakeer (agreement cast in stone) and vowed to continue the alliance for the formation of new Government albeit after receiving guarantees from the Narendra Modi led Central Government
Talking to reporters after addressing a party meeting in north Kashmir’s kupwara district PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said that her late father and PDP founder Mufti Sayeed entered into the atypical alliance with BJP with clear understanding on the basis of agreed agenda. She said it was the turn of Government of India to reciprocate its sincerity, towards Mufti’s vision of peace and prosperity by taking tangible action on ground to create an enabling environment for peace, economic development and prosperity of the State. “The Government formation and tangible action on ground have to go hand in hand”, she said.
Mehbooba is continuously showing reluctance to sit in Chief Minister’s chair ever since her father breathed his last in a Delhi hospital exactly two months ago on January 7. Even as she vows to go by the alliance with BJP, she is seeking guarantees from the Central Government to implement the Agenda of Alliance, a roadmap for the coalition, in letter and spirit. The BJP has not shown aversion to the commitment and its leadership is awaiting Ms Mufti’s initiative to form the Government. Technically, PDP has to elect the legislature party chief and implementation of Agenda would not be done by BJP alone.
Mehbooba said that her father’s commitment with BJP is like an agreement cast in stone. “The PDP is committed to the ‘Agenda of Alliance’ which encompasses remedy for almost all the facets of J&K’s peculiar challenges including internal, external, political, security, economic, social, developmental and governance issues in a comprehensive and effective manner”, she said.
She said the implementation of the Agenda with sincerity of purpose would go a long way in addressing the trust-deficit between New Delhi and J&K. She said it would also lay strong foundations for sustainable peace and prosperity in the State and the region.