E-Paper
BJP only paying lip service to Vajpayee's Kashmir policy: Mehbooba
A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi described regional parties as "looters", Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti, on Sunday accused the BJP of not being serious about Vajpayee policy on Kashmir.
A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi described regional parties as "looters", Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti, on Sunday accused the BJP of not being serious about Vajpayee policy on Kashmir.
"When the prime minister of the country speaks, he should not allow it to look ridiculous as his comments about in Kishtwar," Mehbooba said, adding that even election-time rhetoric should be restricted to "decent levels".
The PDP leader said Modi's knowledge on Jammu and Kashmir had "serious gaps" and his invoking Vajpayee on resolution of the issue was just "lip service".
"There has so far been no evidence of any initiative in that direction. The atmosphere of hope generated by inviting Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for Modi's inauguration was unnecessarily reversed by calling off the secretary level talks with Pakistan on flimsy grounds," Mehbooba said.
Canvassing for PDP's Homshalibugh assembly candidate, Sofi Abdul Gaffar in Kulgam district, Mehbooba said, "Everybody in Jammu and Kashmir and rest of country is aware about the integrity and credentials of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed."
Claiming that the three years of Sayeed-led coalition are still remembered as a reference point for good governance and political maturity, Mehbooba said former prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, publically acknowledged the positive change that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had brought in the atmosphere and on the ground in Jammu and Kashmir.
She said Vajpayee could take his historic initiative on the state and about Pakistan only after change of government in the state.
"We offered a credible and serious regional alternative to the people," Mehbooba said.
Mehbooba accused the BJP of being in a "covert relationship" with the National Conference.
"Its (BJP's) legislators voted for the victory of the NC candidates, reportedly against monetary considerations," she alleged.
"If the BJP legislators sold even their vote, its leaders were in no position to sermonize on morality," Mehbooba added.