Neeraj Rohmetra
Jammu, Feb 9: Even as there were no clear indications of Government formation in the State, both PDP and its coalition partner BJP were engaged in back channel diplomacy and this became quite evident from the discreet meeting between the PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti and BJP’s chief whip in Lok Sabha, Arjun Ram Meghwal.
Though senior leaders of both the parties were tight lipped over what transpired in the meeting, sources told EXCELSIOR, “both the leaders discussed the political situation in the State and favoured for early end to the on-going stalemate”.
“Mehbooba Mufti made it clear to the senior BJP leader that some Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) were imperative for early resolution to the impasse and her party was only demanding implementation on ground some of the decisions that had already been agreed upon in the Agenda of alliances”, sources said adding, “this was the first political contact between senior leaders of the two political parties, after the imposition of Governor’s rule in the State”.
Meghwal, who is party’s MP form Bikaner area of Rajasthan and is also the Chairman of the Parliamentary House Committee listened to views of the PDP leader and assured to take up the same with party leadership in New Delhi. The meeting was held at Fair View residence of the PDP chief and lasted for nearly 30 minutes.
When contacted the BJP’s Lok Sabha chief whip told EXCELSIOR from New Delhi, “as Chairman of the Lok Sabha House Committee, which deals with various facilities provided to the MPs, I had visited Kashmir along with some of my party colleagues. We had held interaction with officials from J&K Telecom Circle, Northern Railway, National Highway Authority of India, Airport Authority of India, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and Ministry of Home Affairs”.
Asked if he had met the PDP chief, the MP confessed, “I had a meeting with PDP chief, who is also PDP’s Member of Parliament from Anantnag”.
To a specific query if the Government formation was discussed with the coalition partner, he quipped, “there was no discussion about the issue of Government formation and it was only a courtesy call since she is also our colleague in Parliament”.
Meanwhile, a high level meeting is being held in New Delhi tomorrow afternoon between RSS and senior party functionaries of BJP at RSS headquarter in New Delhi. The meeting will be held under the chairmanship of Krishna Gopal, RSS Sah-Srakaryavah, who deals with all matters pertaining to BJP in the country and will be attended by RSS Prant Pracharak, Ramesh Papa, Prant Sangh Chalak, Brig Suchet Singh; Prant Karyavah; Purushottam Dadhichi, Sah Prant Karyavah; BJP National General Secretary and point man for J&K – Ram Madhav, BJP Vice President, Avinash Khanna; Dr Jitendra Singh, MoS in PMO; State General Secretary Ashok Kaul (Org), former Deputy Chief Minister, Nirmal Singh and State president Sat Sharma.
Though party sources stated that the high-profile meeting between the senior party functionaries was scheduled month back and was a routine exercise by RSS to hold threadbare discussion over the political situation in the respective States, the on-going stalement is also likely to figure prominently in the meeting.
“The leaders are likely to discuss the performance of the eight month old PDP-BJP coalition in the State and would also confabulate how to further implement the party agenda in the State. While some senior leaders of RSS were critical of the PDP’s political agenda, several BJP leaders are likely to through their weight behind the continuation of the coalition”, sources asserted.
Meanwhile, Ashok Kaul, BJP’s General Secretary (Org) today refuted reports, which claimed that the party’s point man on J&K — Ram Madhav would be visiting the State next week. “There is no official communication between the two coalition partners and the status quo is being maintained”, he added.
Senior PDP leader, Naeem Akhtar when asked if there has been any further movement on the issue of Government formation, said, “there is no further progress on this front and our party resident has made it amply clear that for early resolution of this political impasse, Modi Govenrment has to come forward with CBMs”.
“We are not imposing any fresh conditions for Government formation and are only demanding the implementation of Agenda of Alliance, which had been formulated under the guidance of two visionary leaders – late Mufti Sayeed and Narendra Modi. These measures are important for the welfare of people of State and need to be taken on urgent basis”, he added.
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