New Delhi/June,18: The BJP has pulled out of its alliance with People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti resigns.
Addressing a press conference after taking a decision BJP’s National General Secretary and point man of PDP-BJP alliance Ram Madhav said “It has become untenable for the BJP to continue its alliance government in Jammu and Kashmir, hence we are withdrawing” adding that “Terrorism, violence and radicalisation have risen and fundamental rights of the citizens are under danger in the Valley. Shujaat Bukhari’s killing is an example.” He said “BJP ministers in the J&K government have sent their resignation letters to the Chief Minister and BJP wanted governor’s rule to be imposed in the state”.
“Keeping in mind larger interest of India’s security and integrity, the fact is that J&K is an integral part of India. In order to bring control over the situation prevailing in the state, we have decided that the reigns of power in the state be handed over to the governor,” he said.
Reports said the PDP and the BJP did not see eye to eye over the Centre’s decision to end its suspension of operations against militants in Jammu & Kashmir. The month long suspension of operations against militants was called off after the killing of noted journalist Shujaat Bukhari and an army man Aurangzeb in separate attacks a day before Eid Ul Fitr.
Madhav maintained that the Centre had done everything for the Valley and blamed the Mehbooba Mufti government for not being able to fulfill its promises. “Our leaders have been facing a lot of difficulties from PDP in developmental works in Jammu & Ladakh,” he remarked. But even before this past month, the two parties had been drifting apart, both locked into a war of words both publicly and privately, each blaming the other for massive mob violence and the rising militancy in Kashmir.
Meanwhile PDP has called an emergency meeting at the residence of party President and outgoing Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to take stock of the situation that has arisen in the aftermath of the announcement of the pull out of the alliance by the BJP. A senior PDP leader on conditions of anonymity said ” We were not comfortable with the BJP for a long time and we are happy to come out of the alliance which was not endorsed by the people in Kashmir. We will take stock of the situation at a meeting to be presided over by Party President Mehbooba Mufti at her residence at 4.00 P.M today”
