Desisting from any blame game or expressing annoyance publicly, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday tendered her resignation as J&K Chief Minister to Governor N.N. Vohra and hinted at the Centre’s “muscular policy” as a tipping point in the four-year ruling alliance with BJP.
“Muscular policy will not work or be successful in J&K. We can’t treat the State as an enemy territory,” said Ms. Mufti after tendering her resignation to the Governor. She ruled out forming any alliance or bidding for power.
Of late, the two partners were seen pulling in different directions on the approach to be adopted towards growing anti-India protests, separatists and local militants.
While BJP pushed for a hot pursuit against separatists and militants in first half of 2017, the PDP worked hard on the Centre unilateral ceasefire in Ramzan this year.
However, both the parties accuse each other of failing to achieve any desired results.
“The State government could not take timely and prompt action against militants when it was required, allowing the situation to deteriorate. We welcome the BJP high command’s decision,” said BJP leader Kavinder Gupta, who was Deputy Chief Minister.
Describing the BJP’s decision “as their prerogative” and claiming not to be “surprised”, Ms. Mufti said her party succeeded in pursuing its political agenda of “reconciliation and dialogue” through the coalition’s Agenda of Alliance (AoA).
Ms. Mufti claimed achieving many victories including by winning the case on Article 370 and defending state subject law 35-A in the Supreme Court, releasing 11,000 protesters, declaring unilateral ceasefire, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting Pakistan and offering dialogue through Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. “PDP believes in good relations with Pakistan. Unfortunately, there was no positive response from the other side even on ceasefire,” she said.
She said her government addressed the insecurity of minorities in J&K by going against cow vigilantism and pursuing the Kathua rape-and-murder case.
Another PDP leader Naeem Akhtar said the BJP had taken the decision to end the alliance for securing its interests in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. “There was a perception that Kashmir betrays Delhi. We have proved that it’s Delhi that betrays Kashmir but Kashmir does not betray Delhi,” said Mr. Akhtar.
No mandate
National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah, who was called by Governor Vohra to the Raj Bhavan, said he conveyed to him that his party has no mandate to form the government and pleaded for early elections. “People have right to choose a government soon,” he said.
He said “marked and significant deterioration in the Kashmir situation led to the BJP’s pullout”.
“I have been telling Ms. Mufti to go. I thought the alliance will fall apart later this year. I was surprised by the timing. It would have been great had Ms. Mufti resigned the moment the BJP summoned its minister to Delhi. But she chose to be shunted out rather than move out with some kind of dignity,” said Mr. Abdullah.
On BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav’s hints at pursuing a tough policy against protesters and militants, Mr. Abdullah said, “Mr. Vohra will complete 10 years in J&K on June 25. We should trust his wisdom and see how he will restore people’s government at the earliest.”
CPI (M) leader M. Y. Tarigami Tuesday said the leadership of both the PDP and the BJP “for their unprincipled alliance”. “The decision of the BJP has the potential of creating greater political instability in J&K. It signifies the total political failure of the BJP’s approach in the state,” said Mr. Tarigami.
