Caravan News
SRINAGAR: Day after BJP president Amit Shah accused Mehbooba Mufti of not honoring the Agenda of Alliance (that BJP and Mehbooba’s PDP had prepared to run the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir), former Chief Minister Mehbooba came out hitting back strongly.
She said Agenda of Alliance never wavered and it was co-authored by BJP’s Ram Madhav and endorsed by senior leaders including Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
“Many false charges levelled against us by our former allies. Our commitment to the Agenda of Alliance, co-authored by Ram Madhav & endorsed by senior leaders like Rajnath Ji never wavered,” said Mehbooba and rebutted BJP’s charges in a series of tweets.
After being in the Mehbooba government for three and half years, BJP parted ways last week without informing the alliance partner PDP, leading to the fall of the government. After the fall, several BJP leaders including president Shah made several allegations against PDP including it being soft with those behind violence in the state. Several observers and opposition parties termed the BJP move as its calculated strategy for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
“It is sad to see them disown their own initiative & label it a ‘soft approach,” said Mehbooba.
“Status quo on Article 370, dialogue with Pakistan & Hurriyat were a part of AoA. Encouraging dialogue, withdrawing cases against stonepelters & the unilateral ceasefire were much needed measures to restore confidence on the ground. This was recognized & endorsed by BJP.”
She also rejected the charge that her government made any discrimination with Jammu or Ladakh.
“Allegations of discrimination against Jammu & Ladakh have no basis in reality. Yes, the valley has been in turmoil for a long time & the floods of 2014 were a setback, therefore needed focused attention. But that does not mean that there was any less development elsewhere.”
Hitting further hard, she said: “If anything they (BJP leaders) should review the performance of their own ministers, who largely represented the Jammu region. If there were any such concerns, none among them either at state or central level talked about it during the last 3 years.”
On Kathua case she said: “Not handing over the Rasana rape & murder case to CBI, getting the pro rapist ministers removed & also issuing orders not to harass the Gujjar & Bakarwal community in the guise of anti-encroachment drives were my duties as CM to provide a sense of security to both communities.”
She also condemned BJP MLA Choudhary Lal Singh for issuing threats to journalists and asked BJP if it is going to take any action against him.
“After expressing concern about freedom of expression in J&K following Shujaat’s murder, their MLA, notorious & even punished for his role in the aftermath of the unfortunate Kathua case still threatens journalists belonging to the valley, so what are they going to do about him?” asked Mehbooba.
After the fall of the government, the central government of BJP imposed President’s Rule in the state.
