Mufti meets Modi: Is PDP-BJP alliance intact? Rumours say otherwise

On Monday, Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti stayed away from commenting anything on the PDP-BJP alliance in the state.

New Delhi, April 24: On a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to take stock of the ongoing violent situation in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, clashes broke out between security forces and students in the Valley.

After meeting PM Modi and home minister Rajnath Singh, Mufti told reporters that she discussed the current violent situation in the Valley with them. However, as rumours are rife that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and Bharatiya Janata Party alliance in J&K is on the verge of collapse, Mufti stayed away from talking anything about it.

However, BJP spokesperson Ram Madhav later told the media that the PDP-BJP alliance in the state was safe. "There is no rift between the BJP and the PDP. There is some issue regarding the member of legislative council election. We noticed lack of communication, we will address it," said Madhav.

While the BJP reiterated that the alliance was safe, a senior PDP leader told News18 that Mufti should immediately end the partnership. Senior PDP leader and former deputy CM Muzaffar Hussain Baig said Mufti should "go back to the people," instead of "sticking to the alliance" with the BJP.

Baig added that the PDP has been "the loser in the coalition" as it has "lost more political capital than the BJP". On Monday, the Congress said peace in the Valley won't come till the rule of the PDP-BJP continues.

"There won't be peace in J&K till there is the BJP-PDP government. Governor's rule is never a solution, they should change their way," Ghulab Nabi Azad of the Congress, told reporters.

The rumours of trouble brewing in the PDP-BJP alliance emerged after BJP leaders in the state expressed their opinion of taking a tough stand against stone pelters and local protesters in the Valley.

However, CM Mufti and her PDP colleagues want to soften their stand against the local population after several civilian deaths were reported during clashes between protesters and the army in recent times.

On Monday, Mufti said that unless and until situation in Kashmir was not under control, talks were not possible. "First, let us take control of the situation, otherwise it's not possible to talk under the shadow of stone pelting and gun shots. (Pehle humein situation ko sambhaalne dijiye, kyunki pattharbaazi aur goli ke mahaul mein baat nahin ho sakti)," said Mufti on if peace parleys would be soon started with various stakeholders in the state.

OneIndia News