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PDP-BJP alliance in J-K has failed miserably, says PDP Lok Sabha MP
As Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Thursday, fissures resurfaced in the former’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over its alliance with the BJP, with Srinagar MP Tariq Hameed Karra asserting that the ruling coalition had “failed miserably” on all fronts.
As Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Thursday, fissures resurfaced in the former’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over its alliance with the BJP, with Srinagar MP Tariq Hameed Karra asserting that the ruling coalition had “failed miserably” on all fronts.
Karra, a known opponent of his party’s decision to forge an alliance with the BJP, said the RSS was “desperately trying to gain some foothold” in Kashmir through the ruling alliance.
“They (RSS) had failed all these years, but have now succeeded in making inroads in Kashmir thanks to the PDP-BJP alliance,” the senior PDP leader told HT.
“The RSS is implementing its long-held objectives in Kashmir through BJP. It is well-known that RSS has anti Kashmir and anti-Muslim agenda. See what happened in Jammu and Kashmir assembly. They nearly lynched (independent MLA) Engineer Rashid though I do not support his actions.”
Rashid was allegedly beaten up by BJP MLAs for hosting a beef party in Srinagar in protest against the beef ban in the state. Former CM Omar Abdullah had likened the episode to Dadri incident in which a man was lynched over rumours that he had eaten beef.
“Dadri and assembly incidents have not gone down well in Kashmir. This is first time in free India that Kashmiri Muslims feel threatened and think that their religion is in danger,” Karra said, urging the PDP leadership to rethink the alliance with the BJP.
Karra said the ruling coalition has “failed miserably” in bridging the gaps between regions and communities. “In fact, the alliance has widened these gaps,” he said.
The relations between PDP and BJP have been tenuous ever since they forged an alliance early this year after December 2014 assembly elections threw up a hung verdict.
Karra also charged the Modi government with “meting out step-motherly treatment” to Jammu and Kashmir in terms of the financial help and the much-awaited flood relief and rehabilitation package it had promised.
However, sources said the Prime Minister might announce the much-awaited financial package during his November 5 visit to Jammu and Kashmir . Since July, Jammu and Kashmir government functionaries have been claiming that the Centre would announce Ra 90,000-crore financial package for the state.
Read: J-K: BJP MLAs thrash legislator who hosted ‘beef party’
