BJP rejects Mufti’s ceasefire appeal

Srinagar: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday caused huge embarrassment to ally Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and its leader and chief minister Mehbooba Mufti by publicly rejecting the proposal of unilateral ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir during upcoming Muslim fasting month of Ramazan and annual pilgrimage to revered Hindu case-shrine of Amarnath.

On the other hand, the Army chief, general Bipin Rawat, also sought to put the lid on the J&K mainstream parties’ plea by questioning wisdom behind it indirectly though.

He said that the Army was ready to suspend” military operations to avoid civilian casualties but asked “who will guarantee that there won’t be fire at our men, at our vehicles? Who will guarantee that policemen, political workers, our men returning home on leave aren’t attacked, aren’t killed?’’ The chief minister had on Wednesday after an all-party meeting was held here in the backdrop of escalation of separatist violence in Kashmir and simmering anger among its youth, said that the Centre will be asked to consider a ceasefire in the state during Ramazan and Amarnath yatra.

She had said, “It was the unanimous decision of all parties during the meeting that the Government of India should consider ceasefire ahead of Ramazan and Amarnath yatra. People are facing problems because of the security forces’ crackdowns and search operations. If these are put to halt and a unilateral ceasefire announced the people will get some relief.”

The meeting, as per the chief minister’s statement, had also decided that an all party delegation will meet Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, soon to make a formal request for ceasefire and also to discuss the urgency of political outreach.

Incidentally, the Prime Minister is scheduled to pay a visit to all the three regions of the State-Jammu, Kashmir Valley and Ladakh- later this month. BJP spokesperson Sunil Sethi said that party wants to deal firmly with the stonepelters in the Valley.