Signs of thaw: Bukhari, Ansari meet CM

SRINAGAR: In signs of a thaw, two senior PDP ministers who submitted their resignations on Friday from the Cabinet met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti separately in Srinagar. While Basharat Bukhari met the Chief Minister today, Imran Ansari had a meeting with Mehbooba late Saturday. Bukhari held a nearly two-hour meeting with the Chief Minister wherein he discussed issues which he had raised in his resignation letter.

Basharat Bukhari, PDP leader

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 19

In signs of a thaw, two senior PDP ministers who submitted their resignations on Friday from the Cabinet met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti separately in Srinagar.

While Basharat Bukhari met the Chief Minister today, Imran Ansari had a meeting with Mehbooba late Saturday. Bukhari held a nearly two-hour meeting with the Chief Minister wherein he discussed issues which he had raised in his resignation letter.

“I raised the very political issues raised in the communication (resignation letter). We also discussed many governmental, administrative, party as well as some personal issues,” Bukhari told The Tribune after meeting the Chief Minister. He, however, did not disclose whether he would withdraw his resignation. Sources, however, said Mehbooba urged Bukhari to join his new ministry while promising to discuss his concerns later.

After his meeting with the Chief Minister, the group of senior party leaders headed by vice-president Sartaj Madni met Bukhari at his Srinagar residence. “Bukhari flew to Jammu, where further discussions will be held,” a source said, adding that the issue would be resolved.

Late Saturday, influential Shia leader Imran Ansari met the Chief Minister. “Imran met the Chief Minister and insisted that she should fulfill the promise made to him that at the time of reshuffle he would get a new ministry,” said Zadibal MLA Abid Ansari and Imran’s uncle said. “He needs a ministry where he can help people. After all, we have to seek votes.”

The PDP sources said the talks with Ansari and Bukhari were on track and a breakthrough was expected shortly. Ansari was heading for a pilgrimage trip to Mecca along with his family, the sources added.

Within hours after the Altaf Bukhari was sworn in as Education Minister on Friday, the PDP celebrations were interrupted by the news that senior PDP ministers Bukhari and Ansari had resigned.

Both ministers are not happy at the treatment meted out to them in the reshuffle of portfolios.

The sources said the resignations were triggered by the allotment of Public Works Ministry to Naeem Akhter as some ministers have been resentful about him getting important portfolios without being elected by the voters.

The resignations created a buzz in Jammu and Kashmir, with questions being raised about the well-being of the party.