As Bharatiya Janata Party and Peoples Democratic Party grapple over a Common Minimum Programme for government formation in Jammu and Kashmir, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Tuesday raised questions over Article 370 that grants special status for the state causing unease in the Kashmir-based party.
The BJP said efforts are on to secure a comprehensive CMP as far as possible but refused to give a time-frame for formation of a new government even as differences between PDP and it over the controversial issues of Article 370 and Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act persisted.
Last week, it was being speculated that a PDP-BJP government would be in place before the start of the Budget session of Parliament starting February 23.
While both parties maintain that “talks are on” for “securing a comprehensive CMP” for an alliance government in J and K, RSS’s national executive member Indaresh’s comments prompted the PDP camp to reiterate that they will not budge an inch on its position on issues like Article 370 and AFSPA.
Indaresh began by saying that “brotherhood” between the two parties was developing and during this process some questions will arise which will be resolved and once the process is complete “it will be better”.
At the same time, he asked “will you get development by a separate state, flag, citizenship or separate Constitution? Did you get employment and education by it?” a statement which has left some of the PDP leaders red faced.
“Today Jammu and Kashmir citizens should look at Delhi and not Islamabad. They should look at ballot and not bullet. In these elections, they have given their vote for ballot and Delhi.”
BJP, which faced a debacle in Delhi assembly polls, is treading cautiously by trying to address concerns raised by some of the state unit leaders over the growing demands of PDP which includes a written assurance that the saffron party will not rake up Article 370. PDP and BJP have 28 MLAs and 25 MLAs respectively.
The problems for the BJP also apparently compounded as there were reports that RSS was upset over BJP’s possible compromise on Article 370 and Uniform Civil Code.
BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav, who has been leading the negotiations from the party side, told reporters that both BJP and PDP are making attempts for the formation of a government in the state but refused to give any time frame.
“Efforts are on to secure a comprehensive CMP as far as possible,” Madhav said.
Madhav sought to downplay differences between BJP and RSS about the voices from Sangh and said “we are talking to everyone, be it Sangh or any other party that is related to the state. We talk to some selected people only and that’s why, you may be seeing some different statements emerging from other leaders who are not in the know of developments”.
However, Madhav refused to give a deadline, saying, “I am not in a position to give any time frame or deadline for government formation.”
PDP has been maintaining officially that the talks are on and the issues of convergence are more than those of differences, but a daily in the Valley, perceived close to PDP, quoted sources close to Sayeed as saying that PDP will not budge an inch on its demands on Article 370, AFSPA, talks with Pakistan and West Pakistan refugees.
