Our doors aren't closed, says PDP after talks fail

The People’s Democratic Party appeared to soften its stand on Friday night in a bid to reach out to the Bharatiya Janata Party after unsuccessful talks between the two parties to again form a government in Jammu and Kashmir, with a senior party leader saying ‘our doors are not closed’.

Attempts to revive the BJP-PDP coalition in Jammu and Kashmir failed on Friday with the BJP ruling out government-formation on the basis of conditions.

Reacting to Friday’s developments, PDP MP and one of its founding leaders Muzaffar Hussain Baig said that no fresh demand has been made during the talks held by the two parties.

“What we have asked for is very much part of the agenda of the alliance. For example handing over of two power projects, reviewing Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, vacating land held by the army..now all these have been part of the earlier document which received its nod from late Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Baig said.

Earlier in the day, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav, the party's pointsman in the state, said that the stalemate that existed earlier in government-formation continued and that conditions cannot be the basis for the exercise.

Madhav’s remarks sought to create a perception that PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has made some new demands whereas the fact is that no fresh demand has been made.

“I think there is some miscommunication and no new condition has been put forth. It’s better that both parties sit together and clear the air. Our doors are not closed,” Baig said.

Baig said the PDP has asked for an assurance from the Centre that it will look into the demands, which are a part of the agenda of alliance, raised by the PDP chief.

About vacating of land by the army, Baig said that the army has taken out its men and material from Tatoo ground on the outskirts of Srinagar city.

“They are only holding the land on paper while the army has been given land in lieu of that. So, what’s the issue in that? This land can be used by the Union government for building a national institute,” he said.

Another issue flagged by Baig, a former deputy chief minister and finance minister of the state, was that of enhancement of relief to flood victims.

“We have said that relief to some of the flood victims could be enhanced after thorough verification. This is not something unjust. People of the state were Indian citizens first and residents of Kashmir later,” he said.

He said both the parties should learn to ‘trust each other’ and allay all fears.

“I have maintained in the past that the agenda of alliance should not be a mere power-sharing agreement. It’s a very good document which needs to be implemented in good faith,” he said.