Fayaz Bukhari/ Gopal Sharma
SRINAGAR/JAMMU, Feb 15: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti accompanied by leaders of the party today offered prayers at her father Mufti Muhammad Sayeed’s grave at Bijbehara in Anantnag district of South Kashmir.
Senior Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leaders including president of the party, Sat Sharma, former Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh, Chander Prakash Ganga and Bali Bhagat met Mehbooba Mufti at her residence this afternoon. They arrived at her residence at around 2 pm from Jammu and left at 3 pm.
Dr Nirmal Singh told reporters outside the residence of Mehbooba that they had come to offer condolences to PDP president on the 40th of former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. “It was just to offer condolences to Mehbooba and no politics was discussed”, he said.
Earlier, Mehbooba accompanied by her mother Nusrat Ara, brother Tasaduq Mufti, sister Rubiaya Sayeed and other members of the family went to Bijbehara town to offer prayers at her father’s grave.
The family members were accompanied by leaders and workers of the party at Dara Shikoh park at Bijbehara on the 40th day of mourning for Mufti Sayeed who died on January 7 in New Delhi’s AIIMS hospital.
Police and CRPF were deployed in full strength along the 40-km national highway from Srinagar to Bijbehara town to secure passage for the Mufti family and other leaders of the party.
Quran Khwaani and special prayers were also held, in which number of party leaders also participated.
However, there was no word on the long awaited Government formation in State, by Mehbooba as she refused to talk to media.
The former Education Minister and senior PDP leader and spokesperson Naeem Akhtar while talking about the Government formation said: “it is in the hands of Mehbooba Ji and she will take decision soon.”
Akhtar said Mehbooba and others spent some time at the grave of Mufti before returning to Srinagar. He said large number of party workers and others were also offering ‘fateha’ to the late leader.
Large number of people, PDP leaders and party activists visited the residence of Mehbooba to take part in prayer meeting and offer condolences.
Meanwhile, asserting that alliance with the BJP is still intact, former Deputy Chief Minister and senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Beig (MP) has said that PDP wants a time-frame for the resolution of the agreed issues in the agenda of alliance.
Talking to the media-persons at the sidelines of a function organised at party office in Jammu on the 40th day of late Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed today, Beig said, “There is no question of lack of confidence between the two sides. The CBMs are needed between two enemy countries. There is agenda of alliance between BJP and PDP and that still exists.”
“We only want some time-frame for addressing issues agreed in the agenda of alliance. They also know there is an agreement on some issues. We only want clarity that such issues will be addressed in first year, then some other identified issues during second year and so on‘’, Mr Beig maintained.
Replying to a question regarding any progress in the formation of Government or talks with the party president Mehbooba Mufti, the senior PDP leader said that leaders on both sides are in regular touch and are holding deliberations on the issue. It may take some time but it is premature to disclose anything at this point of time.
“The issue of Government formation may be on the tongue of the general public but it is in our mind”, Mr Beig said while dropping a hint on the early formation of Government in the State.
When asked whether some top BJP leaders including Ram Madhav are meeting his party president Mehbooba Mufti on Govt formation in near future, Mr Beig said, “Well, I am not aware whether Ram Madhav is coming for meeting and she is being approached by several leaders from that side.”
Commenting on the JNU incident, Beig termed it a matter of concern asserting that if the Home Ministry has linked it with Lashkar-e-Toiba chief Hafeez Saeed then definitely there is some mischief. It is highly condemnable. This should not happen. Beig also said that there is need to deal with the emerging hatred and control ‘Hafiz Sayeeds’ within ourselves.
“They (Home Ministry) might have some evidence due to which they had named Hafeez Sayeed’s involvement behind JNU episode,” said Mr Beig.
On the killing of two civilians in Pulwama, he demanded probe and said it should be ascertained whether the youths were killed in cross-firing or by the security forces. He said forces are deployed for guarding borders and protecting people. There can be error some times. If due to negligence of any security men it has happened, he should be punished. With the investigation things will be clear, Beig added.
Earlier, addressing party workers after paying floral tributes to Mufti Sayeed Beig called upon the party workers to carry forward message of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to every nook and corner of the State to fulfill dreams of former Chief Minister.
Terming Mufti Sayeed as a statesman and visionary leader with numerous qualities, Beig recalled his long association with the departed leader and said that by forming PDP Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had changed dynamics of J&K politics.
“He was a rare politician, a popular Chief Minister and an efficient administrator. He ceaselessly worked for the development of Jammu and Kashmir. The demise of Mufti Sahib is an irreparable loss not only for Jammu & Kashmir but for the entire country. His death has created a void in politics which is difficult to fill,” Mr Beig said and exhorted party workers to work assiduously to fulfill dreams of Mufti Sahib.
Prominent among others who spoke on occasion included senior leaders Rangil Singh, Ved Mahajan, T S Bajwa, Shanti Devi, Mehboob Iqbal, Rafiq Hussain Khan, Daman Bhasin, former Minister and MLA Ch Zulfikar, MLA Qamardin, MLCs Vikramaditya Singh, Surender Choudhary, Firdous Tak, Bhushan Dogra, Hussain Ali Waffa, Asgar Ali, Ch Garu Ram, Th Suram Singh, F C Bhagat, Vinod Sharma, Shafiq- Ur- Rehman and Surjeet Kour.
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