Baigh meets Mufti; says willing to work in any capacity

Srinagar, Sep 4 (UNI) Outgoing Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baigh today met Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and assured him that he would work in any capacity in the party to further strengthen it.

PDP sources said Mr Baigh called on the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister at his Gupkar residence here at 1500 hrs and the meeting lasted about one hour.

Mr Baigh had submitted his resignation from the state Cabinet to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad here last evening.

Mr Baigh assured Mr Sayeed that he would work in any capacity in the party and would work to strengthen it further, the sources said.

The outgoing Deputy Chief Minister also explained his stand vis-a-vis the controversy that erupted after Mr Azad refused to divest him of the important portfolios of Finance, Planning, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, they added.

The meeting was seen by the political observers here as an attempt by Mr Baigh to seek rapprochement with the PDP leadership.

He had come out in open against Mr Sayeed and his daughter and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti in a news conference on Saturday and also after submitting his resignation to Mr Azad yesterday.

Mr Baigh had also sounded a warning to Mr Sayeed and Ms Mufti not to initiate ''conspiracies'' against him.

''I hope they will not compel me to reveal things that are in bad taste. I will not initiate conspiracies against them unless they do first. I won't call Mufti a murderer or abuse him like others. I treated him like a father and will continue to do so,'' he said.

UNI AG VD RN1810