PDP confirms talks with BJP but lists conditions

Track-II dialogue with BJP on Govt formation in progress: Mufti

25/01/2015

Jammu: Confirming 'track-II' talks, PDP today said it is willing to form government with BJP for the benefit of Jammu and Kashmir but listed a number of conditions with an assertion that there will be no "sell out" on "core" issues like time-bound revocation of AFSPA.
PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, while insisting that he was not "power hungry", said he is even willing not to claim Chief Ministership if he feels it would benefit the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Contending that he wants to bring the state out of a "quagmire", the former Chief Minister told his party workers here, "Track-II dialogue with BJP over the formation of government in Jammu and Kashmir is in progress."
He went on to add, "Once the track-II dialogue gets some direction, a structured dialogue or the 'track-I' dialogue on the formation of a Common Minimum Programme will be initiated."
PDP emerged as the single largest party in last month's Assembly polls by bagging 28 seats in the 87-member House while BJP stood second with 25 seats. There has been speculation that the two parties have been holding talks to form coalition government.
"Mufti Mohammed Sayeed is not after power or the post of Chief Minister. If I feel that my shaking hands (with BJP) will benefit the state of Jammu and Kashmir and the country, I am ready to do that," Sayeed said.
However, he also said, "Jammu and Kashmir is a Muslim majority state and the Centre must respect the mandate of the people in the state."
He said the state was going through a critical phase and people need a strong and stable government that can deliver on the promises made to them during the Assembly elections.
At the same time, Sayeed listed out his conditions and demands which he wants to be taken care of by BJP.
"PDP has its conditions and there will be no sell-out on our core ideology including the time-bound revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and initiation of dialogue with Pakistan," he said.
AFSPA is said to be one of the main obstacles in the success of the talks as BJP's position on it is exactly opposite to that of PDP.
He also made it clear that his party wants the Chief Minister to be a Muslim as the state is Muslim-majority which must be respected by BJP.
Sayeed, who has also served as Union Home Minister in 1989, his party would also want a special package for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the youth, who are facing problems due to unemployment.
He said PDP would also demand the transfer of NHPC-run power projects in the state to the government of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the state was going through a critical phase and people need a strong and stable government that can deliver on the promises made to them during the Assembly elections.
A similar political crisis had emerged in 2002 when the party forged alliance with the congress to run the government in Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP patron recalled.
Sayeed had then headed the coalition government for three years on rotational-CM basis.
He said the then NDA government led by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had appreciated the policies of the party had supported them to restore normalcy in the trouble torn state.
Earlier, the party unanimously re-elected Member parliament Mehbooba Mufti as the party president. She was re-elected unopposed for a tenure of three years.
The results of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir on December 23 last year threw up a hung assembly with PDP emerging as the single largest party bagging 28 seats in the 87-member house. BJP came second with 25 seats while National Conference bagged 15 seats followed by Congress with 12 seats and others winning seven seats.
Governor?s rule was imposed in the state on January 8, a day after former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah asked NN Vohra to relieve him of the caretaker responsibilities with immediate effect. No party or combination of parties has staked claim for government formation in the state so far.
Meanwhile, Drabu, senior PDP leader, held a meeting with the Governor last evening to inform him about the status of ongoing dialogue between the PDP and BJP.
"During his 45-minutes meeting with the Governor, Drabu informed him about the broad pattern of the PDP-BJP parleys held so far," an official Raj Bhavan spokesman said.
"The PDP leader informed the Governor about the understanding reached between the two parties for the upcoming elections to the Rajya Sabha and the likely time frame presently envisaged for further negotations and conclusion of understandings," he said.

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