The Peoples Democratic Party chief, Mehbooba Mufti, today made it clear that the party will not form a coalition government with the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir unless the Centre ensures a 'conducive atmosphere' by committing confidence building measures (CBMs) for the state.
"There are problems within problems. To face these difficulties, we need to have support and to have that conducive atmosphere (for forming government). If we get that, it is fine but if that does not happen, we will continue to move as we are moving today," Mehbooba told party leaders at a meeting today.
Flanked by her brother Tassaduq Mufti and senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, she indicated that she was not looking for any financial package but the CBMs sought by her should focus on political aspect of the problem.
"There could be a delay in getting finances but if the government has to be formed there has to be a way for forward movement," Mehbooba said.
The state is under the Governor's Rule since January 8, a day after the demise of Mehbooba's father and the then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
PDP, with 27 MLAs in the 87-member Assembly and BJP with 25 legislators, ran a coalition government headed by Sayeed for 10 months before his death.
Contending that she was not "resorting to blackmail or bargaining with Centre", the PDP chief said, "The decision of Mufti sahib is acceptable to us... Mufti sahib had taken this decision (of formation government with BJP) for the welfare of the people. His commitment is my commitment. But it is a tough trial for me in the wake of void created by his demise."
Arguing that Jammu and Kashmir is not like any other state of the country, she said, "It is not Punjab, Rajasthan or Assam. We face lot difficulties here. There are problems within problems. To face these difficulties, we need to have strength and to have that conducive atmosphere."
Asking the PDP cadres to work to strengthen the party, she said, "whether the government is formed or not, we should not depend on that."
"We are going ahead on the path chosen by Mufti sahib. Mufti sahib chose his ideology and welfare of the people when the situation had risen for him to choose between power, welfare of people and his ideology (Usool)," Mehbooba said.
Suggesting that she was willing to remain out of power, the PDP chief said her father and party patron "had done commendable job even while being out of the government as well.
"He remained out of the government for 40-50 years. He remained in the power for 10-12 years. Those who have remained in power for 20-30 years have not achieved that much as Mufti sahib have achieved."
Asserting that there can't be any compromise with the principles of her late father, Mehbooba said, "I will not allow harm to be done to his respect, hard-work and conviction, whatever may happen."
Defending her father's decision to have alliance with BJP, Mehbooba said, "Several people on the two sides in Kashmir and Jammu may have not liked BJP-PDP tie up but even after taken such a major decision, Mufti sahib went to downtown (old) area of Srinagar and was welcomed there. This was his goodwill."
The old areas of Srinagar are considered to be pro-separatists.
Mehbooba, who has been criticised by other parties for creating political uncertainty, said, "People are resorting to rumours over financial issues. It is incorrect. If Mufti sahib started big projects during his 10 month-rule where from did the money come? There may be a delay in some projects."
Appreciating her father's ideology, she pointed out that Mufti had created PDP to give political alternative to the people in J&K.
"We were very much settled in Congress at one time. We had very good relations with Sonia Gandhi and her family. They used to love us," she added.
Expressing her concern over the political uncertainties in the state she said, "Democracy has always been incomplete in Jammu and Kashmir. Oppositions have always been muzzled."
"People like Lalu Prasad Yadav, Nitish, Akhilesh Yadav, Jayalilitha, Mayawati, Mamata Banerjee or Congress and BJP took to power and the democracy was allowed to function as a democracy but in Jammu and Kashmir this was not allowed to happen. In J&K, the power was vested with only one party (NC) in one way or the other way," she added.
"Power in Jammu and Kashmir was considered to be ancestral property by a political party and it was the biggest example in 1987 elections and we are still removing stings from our body," she said.
J-K deadlock: BJP not willing to buckle under PDP pressure