KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Peoples Democratic Party chief, Mehbooba Mufti, Friday asked BJP led Union government to “respect the aspirations of people of J&K” to pave way for government formation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mehbooba who met Governor N N Vohra in Jammu today early kicked off her party’s membership drive in winter capital.
Apparently referring to Agenda of Alliance, Mehbooba said, “If at any time, I feel that they (union government) have space in their hearts for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and a framework which we have made and they are ready to put colours in that framework, then I do not have any hesitation in becoming Chief Minister of this state.”
Jammu and Kashmir is sans a public government since the demise of former CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed when he breathed his last in AIIMS on January 07. PDP and BJP ran a coalition government in J&K since March 2015 after tying up in the form of Agenda of Alliance – the guiding framework of the coalition partners.
However, after the demise of Mufti, Mehbooba Mufti sought J&K specific CBMs from union government before any forward movement on government formation in J&K. “If they (BJP) will not respect the aspirations of people then I will say ‘sorry’ to the option of forming government,” Mehbooba told her party workers in Jammu.
Mehbooba Mufti, who is representing South Kashmir in Lok Sabha, however, asserted that she is “not afraid” of any criticism forming government with right wing Hindu nationalist BJP if the demands are met. “We have costs in aligning with you (BJP) but regardless of these things, I will be ready to form government if peoples aspirations are met.”
“My father had not joined hands with BJP as a party but it was a coalition between the Union government and the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” she said referring to late Mufti’s decision of “taking Jammu along”. “Union government needed to send out a ‘signal’ that it will do ‘everything’ for the welfare of people of Jammu and Kashmir,” she said.
“For us, the decision taken by my father.., if that aim and that aspiration is fulfilled then I am not afraid if people blame me for going with BJP whether they feel good or bad. If people are benefitted then there is no issue,” Mehbooba said.
Revealing that her party colleagues want government formation, she added, “I will do that when I feel that the bigger aim is fulfilled.” “If they send such a signal that for the welfare of Jammu and Kashmir people, they will do everything, its treasures would not run empty,”
