The Shiv Sena on Saturday debunked the BJP's decision to team up with the PDP in Jammu & Kashmir, by saying the move would not only prove to be costly for its saffron alliance partner, but would also land the country in trouble in the coming days.
In an editorial published in its official mouth-piece "Saamana", the Sena took strong exception to the BJP's decision to form a Government in Jammu & Kashmir in alliance through "politics of numbers" and said: "The kind of politics indulged in by the BJP will not only prove to be costly for the party, but will also land the country in trouble".
Indirectly poking fun at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for engaging with PDP leader Mufti Mohammed Sayeed in the formation of a government in J & K, the Sena editorial commented sarcastically: "Knowing the reputation of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and his family, one would have been wary of having 'Chai pe Charcha' and shaking hands with him. But, the determination, courage and dare shown by the BJP to team up with PDP is truly remarkable. One has to take hard decisions in national interest. May be this was one of such decisions taken by the BJP-led Government, given that the Prime Minster himself was present at Mufti's swearing-in ceremony".
In its severe castigation of Mufti, the Sena editorial stated: "After he was sworn as the chief minister, Sayeed displayed his true colours bycrediting the Hurriyat and Pakistan for peaceful elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Simultaneously, the PDP demanded that the remains of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru be brought back to the valley. Both these developments sent shock waves through the country. So much so that the BJP had to meekly tolerate the twin developments".
Slamming Mufti for his pro-separatist and Pakistani leanings, the Sena editorial stated: "Mufti's outlook was never nationalist. He has long been favouring independent Kashmir and has had unmistakable leanings towards Pakistan. When Mufti was the Home Minister in the VP Singh's government, his daughter (Rubaiya) was abducted, and two Pakistani militants had to be released in return to secure her release. The abduction drama was staged with the consent of Mufti, the then Home Minister of the country. All parties including the BJP had expressed their suspicion about the abduction drama was enacted to seek the release of militants".
"Sayeed's sympathy always remained with the militants. Those whom Pakistan calls freedom fighters and martyrs of Kashmir are supporters of Mufti, and some of them have got elected from his party. When one looks at all this, his recent statements should not surprise anyone," the editorial said.
The Sena editorial said that the actual credit for conducting peaceful polls in Jammu and Kashmir should go to the Election Commission for bravely conducting them. The people of J&K should get maximum credit for the peaceful polls in their state, because they defied the terror threats and queued up in large numbers to vote. The Army should also be complimented for the vigilance its personnel exhibited during the polls".
"But, by crediting Pakistan and militants for the peaceful conduct of polls in Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed has insulted all of them (EC, people and Army). Demanding the remains of Afzal Guru is nothing but treachery. Afzal Guru was an enemy of the nation. Showing sympathy towards him amounts to showing disregard towards the Supreme Court's verdict and very legal system in the country," the editorial stated.
"If Mufti were to continue spewing venom in such a manner, then the country would have to pay heavy price for his misconduct. It is time that Article 370 of the Constitution is scrapped and a grand memorial is installed in Srinagar's lal Chowk for late Shyama Prasad Mukerjee, who laid down his life for the country after crusading for the one-constitution-one nation cause," the Sena editorial stated.
The Sena editorial stated that no one could doubt Modi's integrity or his patriotism was beyond any doubt and he had himself disapproved Mufti's utterances. "But, ultimately it is public perception what matters. The people believe in what is shown on television or written in newspapers.. The same media that Modi used effectively to come to power at the centre are now targeting him on the Kashmir issue. All the same we have to believe in the Prime Minister's statement that there would not be any compromise on the issue of Kashmir," the editorial added.