On third anniversary of alliance, Mehbooba reaches Modi for ‘reconciliation between, groups, regions and countries’

CM seeks PM’s intervention for de-escalation of tensions along LoC, IB

JAMMU: On the third anniversary of an uneasy yet strategically significant alliance between ideological rivals Peoples Democratic Party and Bhartiya Janta Party, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today reached Prime Minister Narendra Modi to refresh discussion on the Agenda of Alliance.
The Agenda of Alliance, described by the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, as best agree ever between New Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir –better than Rajiv-Farooq and Indira-Sheikh Accords –is, in PDP’s view, under stress. However, the local leadership of the BJP appears comfortable with the progress.
Building up some of its position by way of criticising the National Conference for its participation in the BJP led NDA alliance under Atal Behari Vajpayee at the Centre, the PDP had justified its alliance with the BJP on the claim that it has got the ruling party to agree on dialogue with separatists and Pakistan. The ‘dialogue’, cornerstone of PDP’s ideological framework, doesn’t excite BJP which has always made enabling atmosphere a pre-condition and political concessions –hallmark of Congress –a no go area.
As the uneasy partnership completes its three years on March 1, the Chief Minister appears to have made a timely touchdown in New Delhi to review progress on commitments. After meeting with the Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, the Chief Minister today reached the Prime Minister with a catalogue of issues seeking his attention.
According an official spokesperson, “threadbare discussion on the Agenda of Alliance also took place during the meeting and the need was felt to ensure time bound progress on all the items including reconciliation between groups, regions and countries and return back of power projects. Better coordination between the two ruling parties, PDP and BJP, was also stressed during the meeting so that better results are delivered to the people in the State.
During the meeting, a spokesman said, the Chief Minister apprised the Prime Minister about the overall situation in the State. She informed the Prime Minister that the people of Jammu & Kashmir have been suffering immensely due to a precarious situation for the past so many decades. She also brought into his notice the recent up scaling of violence along the borders in the State which has forced thousands of people to leave their homes, hearths and daily routine. She said the dire need of the time is to de escalate this situation of violence and uncertainty and adopt the path of reconciliation, as envisioned in the Agenda of Alliance of the present Government, so that a durable peace is ensured in the State and the sub continent.
Mehbooba Mufti also discussed with the Prime Minister the execution of Rs. One Lakh Crore Prime Minister’s Development Package in the State while underlining the need for people’s outreach for effectively percolating down the benefits of such a package.