New Delhi: The People Democratic Party’s (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti Tuesday submitted her resignation as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister to state Governor N N Vohra. Mehbooba’s move came shortly after the BJP announced it was pulling out of its alliance with the PDP in Jammu and Kashmir.
“It has become untenable for the BJP to continue its alliance government in Jammu and Kashmir, hence we are withdrawing” BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said at a press conference this afternoon.
The BJP leader added, “Terrorism, violence and radicalisation have risen and fundamental rights of the citizens are under danger in the Valley. Shujaat Bukhari’s killing is an example.”
He went on to add that all the BJP ministers in the J&K government would resign and said the party wanted governor’s rule to be imposed in the state.
“Keeping in mind larger interest of India’s security and integrity, the fact is that J&K is an integral part of India. In order to bring control over the situation prevailing in the state, we have decided that the reins of power in the state be handed over to the Governor,” he stated.
According to reports, the PDP and the BJP did not see eye to eye over the Centre’s decision to end its Ramadan ceasefire with terrorists. The month-long ceasefire in the valley witnessed a spurt in terror strikes in the region. Noted journalist Shujaat Bukhari and Army jawan Aurangzeb were killed in separate attacks on the eve of Eid.
Madhav maintained that the Centre had done everything for the Valley and blamed the Mehbooba Mufti government for not being able to fulfill its promises. “Our leaders have been facing a lot of difficulties from PDP in developmental works in Jammu and Ladakh,” he remarked.
But even before this past month, the two parties had been drifting apart, both locked into a war of words both publicly and privately, each blaming the other for massive mob violence and the rising militancy in Kashmir.
Madhav also clarified that this unnatural alliance between two parties with differing ideologies was done three years ago keeping in mind the mandate of the people. “If we would not have formed the government at that time, Governor’s rule or Presidential rule would have been imposed in the Valley. We had an alliance with them just for the mandate that was given by the people,” he said.
Governor’s rule recommended
Srinagar/New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra Tuesday evening suggested to the Union Home Ministry that Governor’s rule should be imposed for six months in the state after the PDP-BJP coalition collapsed, official sources said. Officials in the national capital said that Home Ministry has received the recommendation which will be sent to President Ram Nath Kovind for his assent. The Jammu and Kashmir Constitution provides for Governor’s rule unlike other states which see President’s rule. Shortly after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pulled out of the coalition government, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti rushed to the Raj Bhawan here and submitted her resignation to Governor N N Vohra. Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told the media that the BJP, by pulling out of the coalition, was trying to put all the blame for corruption on the PDP.
