Rift over truce: BJP summons J&K ministers; to decide coalition''s future today

Dinesh Manhotra 

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 18

Amid reports of serious differences between the PDP and BJP over the Centre’s decision not to extend the unilateral Ramzan truce, the saffron party’s central leadership has summoned its ministers and senior leaders from Jammu and Kashmir to Delhi to take a final call on the future of the coalition.

The decision will be taken at a meeting in the National Capital on Tuesday.

“All party ministers have been asked to reach Delhi for an important meeting with the central leadership on Tuesday,” Deputy CM Kavinder Gupta told The Tribune from Delhi. Feigning ignorance about the agenda, he said: “Let us wait for Tuesday afternoon because everything would become clear at the meeting,” he said. “Of course, the prevailing situation in the state would be discussed.”

Another BJP minister said he was directed by the central leadership to reach Delhi by first flight from Jammu.

Tuesday’s meeting is significant as BJP national president Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Jammu on June 23.

On Sunday, the Home Ministry had announced its decision “not to extend” the suspension of anti-terror operations in the state. Sources said the decision had led to a rift in the coalition as the PDP leadership, facing criticism in the Valley, was not happy with the end to ceasefire.

A top RSS leader told The Tribune that unilateral ceasefire in the holy month of Ramzan had backfired as the BJP was facing criticism across the country for allegedly appeasing anti-national elements in Kashmir Valley. “The future of the PDP-BJP coalition largely depends on Tuesday’s meeting”, he said, adding the majority viewpoint in the Sangh is to come out of the coalition to face the General Election. Besides party ministers, state president Ravinder Raina, general secretaries Ashok Koul, Narinder Singh, Pawan Khajuria and Harinder Gupta have also been asked to reach Delhi.