PDP, BJP agree on government formation in J&K

The PDP has reached an agreement for forming a government with the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir, a top party source said Saturday.

"I am meeting (PDP leader) Mufti Sahib today and if anything has been worked out, we will hold a briefing about it during the day," Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief spokesman Naeem Akhtar told IANS in winter capital Jammu, while referring to reports that government formation in the state was imminent because the PDP and the BJP had agreed on the draft of a common minimum programme (CMP) for governance. 

A sources close to PDP patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, who returned to winter capital Jammu Friday after spending a week in Mumbai, told IANS an agreement had been reached on all contentious issues between the PDP and the BJP.

"Yes, main agreement has been reached on the draft of the CMP on contentious issues like article 370, armed forces special powers act (AFSPA) and the plight of West Pakistan refugees.

"It has been agreed that without any written reference to it, both the parties would respect the wishes of the people of the state in consonance with the constitution of the country with regard to article 370," a top party source told IANS.