Heptullah visits Mehbooba Mufti; refutes discussing J&K govt formation

Srinagar, Jan 19: Union Minister Najma Heptullah on Tuesday visited PDP president Mehbooba Mufti to offer her condolences on the demise of her father and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, while refuting claims that she had come with a message from the Centre.

"I have not come with any message from anybody," she told reporters before heading to Mehbooba's residence at the high security Gupkar Road.

The Union Minority Affairs minister said it was a tradition among Muslims to visit each other to condole a death in the family. "Mufti sahib was known to me from a long time. I have to come meet his children to condole his death," she said.

On being asked whether she talked about the government formation in the state with the PDP chief, Heptulla said "I will see if the time is appropriate for such a thing."

The minister said her visit to Kashmir was also to interact with BJP workers and discuss implementation of various schemes of her ministry. "I wanted to convey to the workers the achievements made by our government in the past two years so that they in turn inform the people at large," she said.

The minister noted that her frequent visits to Jammu and Kashmir were under the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had asked every minister to choose two constituencies and spend at least 30 hours there for maintaining a rapport with the grass root workers and leaders.

"This (contact) programme is to make people aware about the announcements made by the government and steps taken for their welfare like life insurance schemes and now recently the crop insurance schemes," she added.

PTI