PDP, BJP try to settle rift as Kashmir Valley boils

Srinagar: Amid reports of differences between the coalition partners over various issues, including the handling of the prevailing law and order situation in Kashmir Valley, BJP’s national general secretary Ram Madhav on Friday held a meeting with PDP leader and state’s finance minister Haseeb A. Drabu in Jammu.

Mr Madhav’s visit was also in connection with the forthcoming two-day visit of BJP chief Amit Shah here from April 29.

Renewed street clashes left several people injured on Friday. The BJP favours stern action against “stone-pelters”; while the PDP is for a “healing touch” to win over the alienated youth. 

The PDP leadership feels “controversial” statements from the BJP camp are making matters worse for it in the Valley.

The PDP has also accused the BJP of violating “coalition dharma”; seeing “manipulation” behind the loss of an MLC seat to the BJP in a recently-held election.   

The BJP has denied the charge and said that an Independent lawmaker from Ladakh who was supporting the PDP eventually voted in favour of a BJP candidate on his own.

The BJP on its part wants an equal share in the proposed ministerial reshuffle and change of some portfolios. 

On Thursday, the PDP also publicly censured state industries minister and BJP MLA Chander Prakash Ganga, over his calling for shooting down the “stone-pelters and traitors” of the Valley. The PDP said it strongly condemns what it said were grossly insensitive remarks and “disgusting” utterances which are “not only unjustifiable but perilous as well”.

Mr. Madhav came to Jammu days after the BJP’s core group headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting in Delhi to discuss the issue of Kashmir unrest. 

Sources in the BJP said that Mr. Madhav who is in-charge of J&K affairs separately held threadbare discussions with the state party leadership on the issues concerning its relationship with the PDP and also the overall political situation in Jammu and Kashmir. 

Mr. Madhav later called on governor N.N. Vohra at Raj Bhavan in Jammu. An official spokesman said he “discussed security environment-related issues with the governor and the initiatives under consideration for hastening the developmental process and promoting peace and normalcy”.

Soon after the BJP-PDP meeting, Mr. Ganga regretted his remarks about Kashmir’s stone-pelters saying it was quite unfortunate that his statement was being misinterpreted and misrepresented. He said, “I deeply regret my remarks”. He made a fervent appeal to all for maintaining peace and harmony in the state.

However, the bitterness created between the coalition partners does not seem to be over as yet. Mr. Madhav had on Thursday night in a television interview while referring to a recent incident in which the Army’s had tied a Kashmiri youth in front of a jeep and had allegedly used him as a human shield against the stone-pelters said, “In a war and love, everything is fair”.

The PDP has taken a strong exception to it. Its senior leader and the state education minister Syed Altaf Bukhari on Friday said that the statement “seems to be a move aimed at legitimising a crime that is internationally abhorred under covenants of human rights”. 

Mr. Drabu had acted as the PDP’s chief negotiator over the government formation with the BJP, whereas Mr. Madhav is known as the man behind meticulously stitching dream alliance between ideologically divergent parties in 2015.