J&K crisis: BJP may not ally with PDP if Afzal issue raised

With Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) emissary Ram Madhav expressing ‘satisfaction’ after a meeting with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar on Wednesday, it seems that the stalemate over government formation in Jammu & Kashmir is likely to come to an end soon.

Expressing satisfaction over the meeting, Madhav, the BJP’s general secretary, told reporters in New Delhi that both the parties feel that this government should continue. Though the senior BJP leader refused to give a time-frame for the government formation. 

However, the BJP has made it clear to Mufti that if the Afzal Guru hanging issue is ever raised, it would neither form the government nor will be a part of the alliance in J&K. It must be recalled that the PDP had dubbed the hanging of Guru as “a travesty of justice.”

Sources privy to the PDP chief said the final decision on government formation would be taken after a team of PDP leaders discuss some key issues with Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. 

“The PDP team would be visiting New Delhi in 2-3 days and meet the Finance Minister to seek special package for development of the state,” a BJP insider said, adding that the issue of lifting AFSPA from the state would not be the subject of discussion with Rajanth Singh.

BJP sources said the PDP has agreed to move ahead with some changed terms and conditions of the Agenda of Alliance, which was finalised with former J&K Chief Minister late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed at the time of government formation.

“Talks were positive. Both parties are positive that the state will benefit by continuing with the arrangement, which guided our 8-9 month-old government. We can give a stable government with the same arrangement. This view is on both the side... I hope, yes, there will be continuation of previous arrangement,” Madhav said.