J&K govt should focus on common minimum programme: BJP

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 2

The Opposition in Parliament today created a furore over Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s statement crediting Pakistan and Hurriyat for the smooth Assembly polls. NDA’s key ally Shiv Sena also joined in, expressing indignation.

But crediting the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the security forces and the Election Commission for peaceful conduct of poll, the BJP maintained that the state government should now focus on the “bread and butter issues” and concentrate on delivering as per the Common Minimum Programme drafted by the two alliance partners.

Senior leader Ram Madhav, BJP’s key negotiator for the alliance with the PDP, reiterated the party’s and the government’s point of view. “We attribute it (smooth poll) to three factors, the people of state, security agencies and the Election Commission,” he said, stressing that the new Chief Minister also believed in the contribution of the three factors.

As per Madhav, there could be differences between the PDP and BJP on political issues but so far as humanitarian, development and social issues were concerned there was perfect understanding between the two partners.

The two parties had come together to respect the mandate given by the people, even though on many occasions there was a feeling that “there was no road ahead”.

“The mandate gave us very limited options. The best option was taken keeping in mind the given circumstances,” he said.

“No alliance is easy and here two parties with diverse political ideologies were coming together. The alliance with PDP was the best available and most difficult. We had to keep in mind the interest of the state and also respect the mandate. This is the most representative government J&K has ever got,” Madhav added.

As per the senior BJP leader, the “guiding force” for the new government should be the Common Minimum Programme.