Saturday,
October 19, 2002, Chandigarh, India
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Hardening stand, PDP ready to sit in Oppn
PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti waves to her supporters during a public rally in Ganderbal, 22
km north of
Srinagar, on Friday. |
Srinagar, October 18
The imposition of Governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir appears to have had no impact on the main parties haggling over chief
ministership, with the PDP today hardening its stand, saying that it was prepared to sit in the opposition if the Congress did not accept its terms.Though the Governor’s October 21 deadline for the parties to get their act together and come up with lists of supporters for staking their claim may not strictly hold now, the fact that the Governor is reportedly not keen on appointing advisers was seen as an indication that his rule may not be a long-drawn affair.
PCC chief Gulam Nabi Azad
(left), Congress leader Mangat Ram Sharma (centre) and Panthers Party
chief Bhim Singh during the talks being held for the formation of a government in Srinagar on Friday.
— Photos Amin War |
Addressing a rally in
Ganderbal, the stronghold of the Abdullah family, PDP chief Mufti Muhammed Sayeed showed no signs of relenting on the chief ministership claims for his party, saying that it would firm up an alliance with other political parties only “at its own terms” and was even prepared to sit in the opposition. Without taking the name of the Congress, he said parties wanting to align with the PDP should remember that the mandate was in favour of the PDP and people’s sentiments should be respected. JAMMU: Accusing the Congress of “stalling” the formation of a new government in Jammu and Kashmir, PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti today said it had created a situation where in the Jammu region and Kashmir valley are perceived to be against each other. Claiming that a PDP Chief Minister in the state would have provided a “healing touch”, Mehbooba said “The Congress should understand that it is the PDP which bagged 16 seats and marginalised the NC to 28 seats, thereby ejecting them in the valley.” However, the Congress exploited the issue and virtually gave birth to a Jammu-versus-Kashmir situation, she alleged. The PDP had made it clear to the Congress at the onset about a PDP-led government in the state, Mehbooba, daughter of the JKPDP chief Mufti Mohammad Sayeed told PTI over the phone from Srinagar. She said both parties should honour the verdict of the people. Refuting allegations that the PDP was responsible for the present stalemate, Mehbooba said, “This is not a tussle for power, but our commitment to honour the verdict of the people, particularly the valley and promises made by us to them.” The Congress has governments in 14 states of India, she said, adding “Heavens would have not fallen if in 15th state a non-Congress led government would have been formed”.
PTI
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