Protesting against the unilateral decision for the release of separatist Marasat Alam, BJP president Amit Shah spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Sunday and asserted that his party’s alliance with the PDP was for “governance,” not for making controversial statements or taking controversial decisions relating to national security.
Mr. Sayeed was advised to focus on implementing the Common Minimum Programme — in particular the announcements relating to citizenship rights to West Pakistan refugees, one-time rehabilitation package for PoK refugees, rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits and constitution of a Delimitation Commission.
A decision on these issues, which form the core of the CMP, will come sooner than later, party sources said.
Even though the BJP is facing pressure to break its alliance with the PDP, the party maintained on Monday that it is watching the situation. That Mr. Sayeed is addressing his constituency and is “diverting the agenda for alliance’’ is not lost on the BJP but it is in no hurry to break the alliance. It wants the coalition to work. “The people’s mandate is for governance and development and we want to give both a chance,’’ said a party leader.
“We are focussed on a governance and development agenda, on which the alliance was formed, while Mr. Sayeed is on a political agenda. Our protest is also that this person [Alam] is known to vitiate the atmosphere. So then why are you [Mr. Sayeed] trying to disturb a peaceful atmosphere in the State,’’ the leader asked.
