The PDP President, who was in the national capital to attend the Budget Session of Parliament, drove in a car without security for a meeting that lasted nearly 30 minutes. (File photo)
Highlights
- PDP president, BJP chief meet for nearly 30 minutes
- J&K under Governor's Rule since CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's death
- PDP wants public assurances from BJP on a host of issues
In signs of a thaw amid mounting pressure for a decision on government formation in Jammu and Kashmir, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti met BJP chief Amit Shah on Thursday.
Though exact details of what transpired were not known, leaders in both parties said the meeting indicated that the issues keeping the two allies apart may be heading towards a resolution. The state has been under Governor's Rule since the death of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in January.
A senior PDP leader told NDTV, "The meeting is not merely to look forward, instead it is a step forward. The PDP leadership was not ready to take this step till there was an assurance from the Centre and the BJP on a few issues raised. "
A BJP leader said, "Things are moving fast and government formation, if all goes well, can happen sooner than later".
On Monday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said the Centre was ready "to go the extra mile" for equitable development of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. He also said the Centre stood by the commitments it made.
The assurance found instant response from the PDP. Top leaders described the statement as a "positive development which will have a positive impact on government formation ".
But despite the positive tones, doubts in the PDP remain. Some leaders said Mr Jaitley's statement didn't specifically refer to the conditions mooted by the PDP.
After the death of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the PDP had demanded assurances on specific issues -- return of two power projects, Smart City status for Jammu and Srinagar, progress on AFSPA revocation, talks with separatist groups, flood relief and rehabilitation and a degree of freedom from adapting its politics to the BJP's ideology.
Though most of these demands were already agreed to in the Agenda of Alliance, the PDP, in an attempt to tone down Kashmiri voters' displeasure against the alliance, wanted a public assurance.
For two months, the BJP remained reluctant to offer any. But as the April 9 deadline for clarity in government formation approaches, there have been jitters about a mid-term poll. That's when the BJP stepped in with a generic assurance from Mr Jaitley. Top sources say the assurance came after series of backroom talks between the government and the PDP.
The finance minister has promised to implement the announced Rs 80,000-crore package which comprises development projects.
The Centre had sped up the delivery of promises through Governor NM Vohra in recent weeks. The government has disbursed Rs 43.57 crore to flood-hit Kashmiri traders, of which Rs 22.98 crore was distributed among the worst-affected traders in Srinagar.
To resolve another long pending issue, the army announced it was committed to meeting all the mutually agreed decisions arising not only out of Civil Military Liaison Conference, 2015, but of all previous such meetings in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Army committed to providing land for Jammu University expansion plans and for setting up of South Campus of Kashmir University.