BJP pulled out alliance with PDP !

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday pulled out of its ruling alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that it was untenable for them to continue in the government.

Reports said the decision was taken by the BJP party president Amit Shah after meeting with the party’s ministers in the state.

The BJP on Tuesday pulled out of the coalition with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir. It is the second largest party in the Legislative Assembly with 25 members.

At a press conference in New Delhi, BJP vice president and general secretary Ram Madhav said, “It has become untenable for the BJP to continue with the alliance government in Jammu and Kashmir.”
The party took the decision after holding discussions with the State unit and the Ministers. “Everyone is on board on this decision,” he said.

Recalling that the Assembly elections in 2014 threw a fractured mandate, Mr. Madhav said the BJP decided to support the PDP in order to bring stability in the region. “Restoring peace in Kashmir and encouraging economic development in the three areas of the State was the object of this alliance.”

The BJP Ministers would resign from the Cabinet and the legislators would convey the decision to the Governor soon, he said.

The BJP favoured Governor’s rule in the State. “Keeping in mind that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and in order to control the prevailing situation in the State, we have decided that the reins of power in the state be handed over to the Governor,” Mr. Madhav told journalists.

Highlights from Mr. Madhav’s press conference

Mr. Madhav said:

”It has become untenable for BJP to continue with the alliance government in Jammu and Kashmir.

“We have discussed with the State unit and our Ministers in the government to come to this conclusion. Everyone is on board on this decision

“The mandate that we had got was a fractured one and, therefore, this alliance came about. Restoring peace in Kashmir and encouraging economic development in the three areas of the state was the object of this alliance

“We now see terrorism, violence, radicalism is on the rise in the Valley. Basic freedoms of people are in peril, you saw how journalist Shujaat Bukhari was killed.

“The Centre and the Home Ministry made a sincere effort, cooperating for the developmental aspirations of the people of the state, and for the security of the State.

“It, therefore, grieves me that despite this, the dominant party in the alliance [PDP] was not able to handle the situation in the State.

“Obstacles were also placed in the way of development projects in Jammu and Ladakh.

“For the BJP, J&K is an integral and unalienable part of India. Keeping in mind the larger national interest of integrity of the country, we have decided that it is time that we reassess the situation. That the state be under Governor’s rule”.

Mehbooba calls emergency meeting

PDP president and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has called an emergency meeting of party leaders at 4 p.m. at her residence.

“The coalition functioning was getting difficult with each passing day. We no more suited them. We are not surprised,” PDP political secretary Peer Mansoor told The Hindu minutes after the BJP announced its decision to the media.