‘Allying with BJP like consuming a cup of poison’

Mehbooba explains her father’s decision on his third death anniversary

Peoples Democratic Party president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday chose the third death anniversary of party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to apologise for her controversial remarks made in 2016 and her father’s decision to ally with the BJP in a desperate bid to rebuild the party.

Likening the alliance with the BJP to “consuming a cup of poison”, Ms. Mufti said her party took the decision “to resolve the Kashmir issue”. “However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wasted his mandate vis-à-vis Kashmir as well as the country,” she said. She was speaking to a thinly attended workers' convection in Anantnag, after visiting the graveyard of her father in Bijbehara.

Apologising to the people of J&K for her “toffee and milk” comment made in reaction to the unrest in the Valley following militant Burhan Wani's killing in 2016, the former Chief Minister said she didn’t want to hurt any sentiments and the “the remarks were a pain from the heart of a mother”.

Referring to the recent exit of around 10 prominent faces from the PDP, including four former Ministers, as “garbage gone with the wind”, she said: “The BJP in 2016 was about to agree to my demands but some persons within the party created trouble and went to Nagpur and asked them to sideline Mehbooba to allow formation of a new alliance. My position was compromised,” she said.

She defended her recent visit the families of militants, saying “any harassment of militants’ families should stop”. “During my tenure as Chief Minister, I also visited the houses of slain policemen and bank security guards. I went to visit the families of militants to send a message that any harassment is unacceptable,” Ms. Mufti said.

National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah and Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone also paid their tributes to Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on his death anniversary.

Mr. Abdullah questioned Ms. Mufti's remarks on those who quit her party. “Last year at this very time they were defending her in the assembly & council. With her they were “honest, decent, hardworking” people & after they leave they become “garbage”. The world of politics is indeed a cruel world,” tweeted Mr. Abdullah.