With talks between the BJP and PDP over government formation entering a crucial phase, Prime Minister Narendra Modi won praise from PDP Chief Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for his initiative to call Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and offer to restart talks as part of a SAARC initiative. Mr. Sayeed, who would likely become the Chief Minister if talks are successful spoke to The Hindu ’s Varghese K. George and Suhasini Haidar in an exclusive interview in Jammu.
Q: What is your reaction to the phone call PM Modi made to PM Nawaz Sharif?
MM Sayeed : It is a great gigantic step to be friendly with Pakistan, to attempt a reconciliation with Pakistan. India is a growing country, an emerging power, it has to be friendly with its neighbours. It will really change the scenario in the subcontinent as far as SAARC is concerned. It was a great initiative when PM Modi invited all the SAARC leaders to his swearing in ceremony, and PM Sharif also came. But in between there was some misunderstanding… I welcome this now, it is a great hope not just for people of Jammu and Kashmir, people of India and SAARC countries.
Q: We know that talks are on between the PDP and BJP for government formation in Jammu and Kashmir. Is the reach out to Pakistan also something you discussed with the BJP?
MM Sayeed : We are talking about how to make Jammu and Kashmir a model of good governance. For that, a pre-requisite is peace. During my tenure as CM from 2002-2005, I saw that. And when Musharraf made his commitment to stop terrorism, there was no militancy and peace got a chance, the situation transformed. There what I say is you have to engage Pakistan. You have to engage the people of Jammu and Kashmir, whatever viewpoint there is, we (BJP and PDP) have got a mandate. People have shown faith in the institutions of democracy. And even if there is a dissenting voice, you have to engage it. That is my hope, that they will engage externally, with Pakistan, and internally. Pakistan also needs friendship. They have their own problem with terrorism, and they and they want peace too.
Q: The question on everyone’s lips is how the BJP and the PDP will resolve their differences… over article 370, over AFSPA… Are you confident they will be able to form a government?
MM Sayeed : On these issues, we believe in democracy, I am an Indian, have been Home Minister, but there is a feeling here, that whatever we had got since in independence that power has been eroding away, and atleast we should maintain what we have. This is not like the people who are dissenting, speak of separatism, speak of independence…I don’t mean that. But the identity of Jammu and Kashmir must be kept. It was the only Muslim majority state that acceded to India. It was not by compulsion, but by conviction – so it has to be a shining example for the country. (This election) is a great opening for people to win hearts and minds. If it is the vision of the PM of India Mr. Narendra Modi, who has got the verdict and mandate of people to make India a great power, then he has to change the concept.
Q: And will you be meeting PM Modi soon?
MM Sayeed : No, unless we have something, are able to evolve some common minimum programme, as we had in 2002, I didn’t make any haste, I waited one and a half months, there was governors rule then too…Unless I am not satisfied that there is something basic minimum that we agree… if we do, it is an hour’s or at most a day’s job to form the government.
