JAMMU: Amid flip flops over the question of government formation in alliance with Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti Friday extended an olive branch to the Narendra Modi-led union government after carefully interpreting the mandate of the party workers.
Launching her partys’ membership drive here in Jammu, Mehbooba Mufti told party workers during the day long convention, “I am not afraid” of criticism over joining hands with the BJP but wanted the Centre to send out a “signal” that it will do “everything” for the welfare of people of Jammu and Kashmir.
This is Mehboobas’ first ever statement which clearly hints at the possibility of patch up between the estranged alliance partners after she attended series of meetings with her party workers to gather their feedback.
Dropping subtle hints Mehbooba went on to add, “If at any time I feel that they (Centre) have space in their hearts for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and a framework which we have made and they are ready to put colours in that framework, then I do not have any hesitation in becoming Chief Minister of this State as it would be a matter of honour.
She invoked her late father Mufti Sayeed, saying he had “not joined hands with BJP as a party but it was a coalition between the Central government and the people of Jammu and Kashmir” with an aim of benefitting the people of the state.
“For us, the decision taken by my father.., if that aim and that aspiration is fulfilled then I am not afraid if people blame me for going with BJP whether they feel good or bad. If people are benefitted then there is no issue,” Mehbooba added.
“When it came to the benefit of people, my father did not care about the party. He rose above everything and joined hands with BJP for the welfare of the people”, she said.
Insisting that she was not an “adamant” lady, she said her party leaders want the formation of the government but she will do that when she feels that the bigger aim was fulfilled.
And if the aim of forgoing an alliance with BJP is fulfilled, then she has no objection in forming the government, she said.
“If I feel that the aim is fulfilled, which is the need of the hour, situation is not normal in Jammu and Kashmir after Mufti’s death. My father did not join hands with BJP as a party. The coalition was between the Central government and the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “If they send such a signal that for the people of Jammu and Kashmir for their welfare they will do everything. It is such a huge country, its treasures would not run empty,” Mehbooba said.
Meanwhile, sources informed that PDP has called a meeting of its legislatures on Monday to take a call on its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. The meeting will be held in Srinagar.