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Basharat Peer in Srinagar
The People's Democratic Party on Monday hardened its stand on the formation of a government in Jammu and Kashmir in coalition with the Congress.
"We will not dilute our basic agenda [in order] to be in power. The people of Kashmir have associated their regional aspirations with us. We will not compromise on that," PDP vice-president Mehbooba Mufti said after a meeting of party legislators in Srinagar.
She refused to comment on the appointment of Ghulam Nabi Azad as the leader of the Congress legislature party.
Referring to the 13-year-old problem of militancy, Mehbooba said that the agenda of the PDP was formulated keeping in view the present situation in Kashmir valley.
The agenda talks about disbanding the Special Operations Group, rehabilitating militants who have surrendered, helping the families of those killed in violence and doing away with the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
"Power is not the target, but a means to implement our agenda. If we cannot do that while remaining in power, we might as well work for it in opposition," she added.
She said the chief minister should be from the valley as people of Kashmir were against the National Conference.
"PDP has the mandate to rule here. It is not a matter of numbers and the Congress should understand it. The alienation of the Kashmir valley has to be looked into. As far as giving a regional tinge to the CM's post is concerned, the Congress started it," Mehbooba argued.
She added that doors were still not closed for a PDP-Congress government. "We can still talk."
However, the PDP vice-president did not divulge what were the issues over which the Congress and the PDP had problems. "I think it is premature to comment on the problem areas," she said.
Since some PDP leaders like Muzaffer Hussain Beg and Ghulam Hassan Mir were not present in the meeting, which was presided over by her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the party did not elect its leader of the legislature.
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