New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI) Bharatiya Janata Party on
Wednesday asserted that it has not accepted any new conditions
from Peoples Democratic Party and threw the ball in Mehbooba
Mufti's court, saying her party has to make the next
move for government formation in Jammu and Kashmir.
BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav's assertion came a day
after Mehbooba's meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi which
she had termed as "very positive and good", prompting
speculation that their talks over government formation was
back on track following months of impasse.
"We have not accepted any new condition from the PDP,"
Madhav, a party's pointsman in the state, told PTI.
The talks between Modi and Mehbooba were cordial during
which specific issues were not discussed, he said, adding
that she also did not put up any condition during the meeting.
The alliance between two parties had run into rough
weather following the death of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad
Sayeed as his daughter Mehbooba is believed to have sought
assurances from the centre on certain political and economic
issues close to her party's agenda.
When it appeared that talks for government formation had
fallen through after her unsuccessful meeting with BJP chief
Amit Shah, her positive comments following the meeting with
Modi were seen as a breakthrough.
Asked about prospects of government formation, Madhav
said PDP has to make the next move as he noted that its
legislature party is meeting on Thursday.
BJP sources said Mehbooba has been told to discuss the
nitty-gritty of the alliance with the saffron party
leadership.
Mehbooba had announced on Tuesday that she would decide
on the next course of action after the meeting. More PTI KR
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to the "Agenda of Alliance", a document for the alliance
government agreed between the BJP and PDP then headed by
Sayeed.
Madhav had last week stated that any new demand which
Mehbooba has been making can be taken up by the state
government with the Centre.
The central government cannot give assurances to
political parties, BJP sources said.
After the meeting at the Prime Minister's residence,
56-year-old Mehbooba had told reporters yesterday it was "very
positive" and "good" in addressing issues pertaining to the
people of the state and that she was "very satisfied".
To a question whether the stalemate has ended, she said,
"When you meet the Prime Minister of the country, naturally
the solution to the problems faced by the people of Jammu and
Kashmir is more clear". PTI KR
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