NEW DELHI : As BJP and PDP grapple over a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) for Government formation in Jammu and Kashmir, the RSS today 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 AFSPA 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 Common Minimum Programme (CMP)” for an alliance Government in J&K, RSS’ 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 more 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. (AGENCIES)
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