Mufti: Never wavered on Agenda of Alliance

Srinagar, June 24

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, taking exception to the allegations hurled at her party by Amit Shah, president of former ally BJP,  has termed these as “false”, asserting that her commitment to the common minimum programme never wavered. 

The PDP and the BJP were in a coalition government for two tenures since March 2015 till the BJP pulled out on June 19, saying it had become impossible to continue in the government in view of the growing radicalism. 

In a series of tweets on Sunday, the PDP president pointed out that the measures initiated by her government to restore confidence on the ground were “recognised and endorsed” by the BJP.

“Our commitment to the Agenda of Alliance (AoA), co-authored by Ram Madhav and endorsed by senior leaders like Rajnathji, never wavered. It is sad to see them disown their own initiative and label it a soft approach.

“Status quo on Article 370, dialogue with Pakistan and Hurriyat were a part of AoA. Encouraging dialogue, withdrawing cases against stone-pelters and the unilateral ceasefire were much needed measures to restore confidence on the ground. This was recognised and endorsed by the BJP,” she said.

She termed Shah’s allegation on discrimination against Jammu and Ladakh regions as baseless.  “Yes, the Valley has been in turmoil for a long time and the floods of 2014 were a setback, therefore needed focused attention. But that does not mean that there was any less development elsewhere,” she said.

Asking the BJP to review the performance of its (former) ministers, mostly representing Jammu, Mehbooba said: “If there were any such concerns, none either at state or central level talked about it during the last three years.” — TNS