Jammu and Kashmir: Trouble in paradise? Sonia visits Mehbooba Mufti
Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for mourning now visited PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti as suspense over creation of new government in Jammu and Kashmir continued but the assemblies were seen with political value.
Drove directly from the airport to the Fairview residence of Mehbooba at 3 pm here in Gupkar. She remained for about 20 minutes with the PDP president and paid rich tributes to her dad and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed who passed away.
He was beyond party associations.
Azad afterwards said “there’s no politics in this and no politics ought to be understood of this (assembly). We’ve come here only for condoling and there isn’t any other motivation.” As Mehbooba has had long relationship with Congress and her, Gandhi had come here, he told reporters.
Before floating PDP in 1999, Mehbooba and her dad were in Congress. Congress was represented by her after in Lok Sabha. Shortly after Gandhi’s assembly, Gadkari, senior BJP leader and Union Surface Transport Minister, seen Mehbooba to offer condolences on the passing of her dad. “It’s no time to discuss politics. I’ve come here to share condolences on behalf of the central government,” he told reporters afterwards.
“We’ll attempt to execute each of the guarantees given to him on Jammu and Kashmir,” the minister said. The assemblies are seen as important as a friend of PDP, BJP, has not formally extensive support after Mufti’s death to Mehbooba for the Chief Ministership. Before having a bitter schism in 2008 Congress previously shared power with PDP.
Gandhi’s flying into here to meet as there are reports that PDP and BJP are haggling afresh over the creation of a new authorities, Mehbooba assumes importance. PDP has given a letter to Governor N N Vohra. But Mehbooba has apparently said that she WOn’t take pledge till the ending of mourning period for her dad, which is today the fourth day that drops.
Vohra on Friday had requested BJP and PDP to carry their position on the authorities creation. Governor’s Rule was imposed in the state, since BJP didn’t express its position.
Nirmal Singh expressed confidence the coalition will continue. We’ll see. There haven’t been any discussions on that (government foundation), (but) it’s anticipated the way things were going before, that (coalition) would continue. I’m praying that we soon have a system in position,” he said in Bijbehara, Muftis’ home town.
Singh said no discussions on government creation in the state have taken place between BJP and PDP so far on account of the usual four-day mourning period following the passing former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Today the mourning period finished.
“Everyone is depressed and mourning.
Paying homage to Mufti, Singh said Sayeed’s endeavour was to provide good government to Kashmir and Jammu. “There’s a tremendous obligation now to supply good government to individuals in his absence and to carry forward what he attained in the last 10 months.
“A tremendous emptiness was created by his death. Though he’s not physically present now, his work and memories are before the individuals of Jammu and Kashmir and that must be carried forward,” he said.
source: via
