New Delhi:
With the PDP-BJP coalition falling apart in Jammu and Kashmir, the top PDP leaders in the state put their heads together to discuss the reasons behind this major political turn of event.
The BJP-PDP alliance was at risk over a range of issues with the BJP accusing Mufti of taking unilateral decisions and complaining against her style of functioning in the state.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party, in a big blow to the PDP, called off its alliance with the Mehbooba Mufti government.
"We have taken a decision, it is untenable for BJP to continue in alliance with PDP in Jammu & Kashmir, hence we are withdrawing," BJP National General Secretary RAM Madhav said in a press conference in Delhi.
The decision was taken in a BJP party meeting, convened by president Amit Shah on Tuesday. BJP state chief Ravinder Raina and party general secretary in charge of organisation Ashok Kaul were also present in the meeting, that took place in New Delhi.
The move came days after the Centre on Sunday decided not to extend the ceasefire in the militancy-hit state post the month of Ramzan. According to reports, Mufti was not happy with Modi-government's decision to not extend the "unilateral" ceasefire beyond Eid.
Meanwhile, here we bring you the key reasons behind this BJP-PDP break up in the state.
BJP felt cornered and ignored in Jammu and Kashmir:
The BJP government had long complained that under Mehbooba Mufti, Kashmir Valley was pampered at the cost of other regions of the state. During her tenure, the BJP has failed to establish a strong presence in Jammu and Kashmir while the regions of its influence were being allegedly ignored. The BJP felt cornered in the state, which happened to be one of the major strongholds of the party across India.
The rise in terror attacks and infiltration:
"The situation in Kashmir Valley has deteriorated...radicalisation is on the rise," Ram Madhav, the BJP general secretary and in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir, said on Tuesday during a press conference in New Delhi.
With the Centre approving Mehbooba Mufti's proposal to impose a ceasefire in the militancy-hit state, there was an increase in incidents of terror attacks and infiltrations during the month of Ramzan. Mehbooba Mufti's demand to extend the ceasefire in Kashmir Valley beyond Eid was one of the key reasons behind this BJP-PDP break up in the state.
During the month-long halting of operations along LoC, noted journalist Shujaat Bukhari and several army jawans were killed by the terrorists in the Valley.
Kathua rape and murder:
The rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua was a big blow for the BJP-PDP coalition in Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP was hugely criticised by the ruling PDP for going soft on the party members, who were allegedly the part of the conspiracy. While the local BJP leaders wanted a CBI inquiry into the incident, Mufti preferred probe by the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Unilateral decisions by Mehbooba Mufti
The BJP leaders in Jammu and Kashmir had long accused Mehbooba Mufti of not giving importance to the saffron party in the state and taking all the unilateral decisions in the matter of governance on her own.
The PDP under the leadership of Mufti decided to release stone pelters, not to relocate Bakkarwalas from the government's land and doling out land grants to religious outfit Ahle Hadees. On the other hand, the BJP could not secure any relief for those named in cases filed in incidents related to Amarnath land movement.
2019 Lok Sabha Elections:
With the general elections approaching, the BJP was conscious that the electorate across the country would hold the situation in Kashmir against the party for failure to control terror and violence. It was felt that Governor’s rule could retrieve the situation somewhat for the party.
Resolving the Kashmir issue, was one of the major poll promises, the BJP made during its 2014 Lok Sabha campaign. However, with Modi government coming to the power, the situation along LoC has worsened in the past four years.
