Jammu and Kashmir’s coalition partners, the BJP and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held separate meetings of Ministers and legislators in Jammu and Srinagar on Wednesday, as the beef ban controversy threatened to drive a wedge between them.
BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav, also in charge Kashmir affairs, took stock of the situation in Jammu arising out of the beef ban controversy and the fresh court directive issued in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by right wing groups earlier this month.
After the meeting, Mr. Madhav sought to dispel rumours of a growing rift between the BJP and the PDP. “There are no differences and various matters, including the beef issue, will be handled by the government,” Mr Madhav told reporters in Jammu.
PDP’s anguishIn Srinagar, Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, also patron of the PDP, held a meeting at around 7:30 pm with the Ministers and legislators of his party to discuss a host of issues, including the beef ban.
Sources said PDP leaders expressed anguish at the way the beef ban issue played out. The party is undecided on how to handle the beef ban issue in the Assembly if it comes up for discussion. If the PDP goes by its constituency, it has to support the NC Bill seeking revocation. But it will also have to keep its coalition partner BJP in the loop. For now, it appears the PDP and the BJP want to save the coalition.
