PDP says Article 370 and AFSPA issues non-negotiable
PTI
Srinagar, December 27
The stalemate over government formation in Jammu and Kashmir continued for the fifth day as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) sought assurance from the BJP over certain issues like safeguarding Article 370 and revoking the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) that form the “core agenda” of the regional party.
“All options are still open, no decision has been taken yet on formation of government in the state with any other party,” PDP spokesperson Naeem Akhter told PTI in Srinagar on Saturday.
He said the leadership of the PDP, which emerged as the single largest party in the assembly elections with 28 seats in the 87-member House, was discussing all its options for government formation including an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).“There are certain issues which form our core agenda and require an assurance that these will be accepted by our potential alliance partner, whichever party it might be,” he said.
Akhter said his party’s stand on safeguarding Article 370, which guarantees special status to Jammu and Kashmir within the Indian union, was non-negotiable.
He also said that the party was committed on revocation of AFSPA from the state, besides initiating a political process for resolution of Kashmir issue.
Asked if his party would consider the demand for rotational chief ministership from any future alliance partner, the PDP spokesperson said the negotiations have not reached that stage with any of the parties.
He said the Congress has also given a proposal for government formation to the PDP which is under the consideration by the party.
On the National Conference’s (NC’s) offer of unconditional support to PDP for government formation, Akhter said his party has received no such communication so far from its arch-rival.
“As and when such an offer is received we will surely discuss it and decide the future course of action,” he said.
NC working president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah Friday said his party had only conveyed a “verbal offer” to the PDP through an intermediary.
The PDP leadership is caught in a ‘catch 22’ situation with some influential leaders within the party strongly opposing an alliance with the BJP on the grounds that such a partnership can reverse the gains made by the party during recent times.
A senior PDP leader, on the condition of anonymity, said an alliance with the BJP which emerged as the second largest party with 25 seats, would be “suicidal” for the regional party.
“While good governance and development is a universal yearning among the people, people in a sensitive place like Kashmir also keenly watch the friends you keep. One of the reasons for decline of National Conference was its hob-nobbing with which ever party was in power at the centre,” he said.
The NC, which has 15 seats and can play a key role in government formation, withdrew from the race following open expression of dissent by some senior party leaders after reports suggested that the regional party had entered into parleys with the BJP to cobble up an alliance.
