The Inevitable Happens In J&K: BJP-PDP Govt. Crashes

K. Ramachandra Murthy

What has been on cards for almost three years has ultimately happened. The BJP had pulled the plug and the wobbly Mehbooba Mufti government in Jammu & Kashmir has fallen like ninepins. The dramatic developments on Tuesday ended the uneasy, if not unholy, alliance between the PDP and the BJP, two parties holding diametrically opposing views on all issues concerning Kashmir. It can be described as a failure of Narendra Modi’s Kashmir policy which resulted in stepping up of terrorist activities and total denial of fundamental rights for the common man.

Ram Madhav, BJP General Secretary in charge of Jammu & Kashmir, told media persons in New Delhi that his party continuing in the coalition government has become untenable. He said his party was concerned with the deteriorating law and order situation and the sense of discrimination in Jammu and Ladakh regions. He repeatedly mentioned the murder of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari, editor of Rising Kashmir, as the turning point.

Also Read: BJP Leaves PDP, Mufti Quits; Governor’s Rule in J&K

The BJP point man for J&K said it is time the reins are handed over to the Governor. Political process could be initiated after the situation in the valley was brought under control, he said. Even while Ram Madhav was addressing the media, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has sent her resignation to Governor NN Vohra. Opposition leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah met Vohra at Raj Bhavan in Srinagar. Governor’s rule is the only option available since Mehbooba who has 28 seats in J&K Assembly was not in a mood to stay in power by taking support from the National Conference (15 seats) and the Congress (12). The Congress made it clear that it cannot support the PDP government.

Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) was founded by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Mehbooba’s father, who was union home minister in the VP Singh government in 1989. Narendra Modi tried to get the PDP to sail with the BJP and asked Ram Madhav to work out an alliance with Muftis. Sayeed was the first chief minister heading the coalition government which was formed after prolonged negotiations.

After the demise of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Mehbooba took almost four months to reconcile to the world without her father and form a government. She was leading a coalition in which the parties had nothing in common. The BJP and the PDP are derisively described as North Pole and South Pole, strange bedfellows. That the ideological mismatch between the PDP and the BJP lasted for three years was itself surprising. The partners have been at loggerheads on every issue right from day one.

While the NDA government is not prepared to hold talks with the Hurriyat leaders, Mehbooba pleaded for talks not only with the Hurriyat leaders and separatists, but also with Pakistan. She expressed her disappointment as soon as the ceasefire was withdrawn by the Centre. There were differences of opinion even on the question of special status to Kashmir.

Settlement of refugees has been another contentious issue.

The Kashmiri pundits could not return to the valley. Stone pelting has become a regular spectacle. Kathua rape and murder is being cited as a symbol of anarchy prevailing in the State. Now that the elected government has fallen and Governor’s rule is sought to be imposed, the onus of law and order lies entirely on the Centre. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be responsible for everything.