Srinagar: PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said that a muscular policy cannot work in Jammu and Kashmir and her government tried its best to work for dialogue and reconciliation in the state.
“Muscular policy cannot work in Jammu and Kashmir. We tried our best for dialogue and reconciliation,” Mufti said at a press conference in Srinagar soon after meeting Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra.
She resigned as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister shortly after the PDP’s coalition partner BJP pulled out of the ruling alliance. Mufti said she has submitted her resignation and has told the Governor that the PDP is not looking to explore any other alliance.
“Mufti Mohammad Sayeed did this alliance for the good of Jammu and Kashmir considering the BJP was a big party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had come to power with such a huge mandate,” she said.
“Mufti Sahab had taken a decision which was unpopular but we took it in the larger interest,” the PDP chief said.
“We didn’t do this alliance for power. This alliance had a bigger motive such as unilateral ceasefire, PM Modi’s visit to Pakistan, withdrawal of cases against 11,000 youth,” Mufti said.
She said that PDP pursued its agenda and defended the special status of the state.
“We have pursued our agenda. We defended article 35A and 370. We were instrumental in declaring unilateral ceasefire,” she said.
She argued that talks with Pakistan and people of Kashmir are important.
With the end of PDP-BJP coalition government, Jammu and Kashmir is likely to come under governor’s rule for the fourth time in the last 10 years.
The BJP pulled out of its alliance with the PDP, saying it had become untenable to continue in the government.
BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said the decision to withdraw was taken after consulting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah.
The BJP blamed the PDP for failing to improve the security conditions in the Kashmir Valley. Madhav cited the assassination of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari and abduction-killing of Army jawan to argue that security situation had worsened in the state under the leadership of Mehbooba Mufti.
“It has become untenable for the BJP to continue in the alliance government in the state,” Madhav said.