This Article is From Mar 23, 2016

BJP Says It Has Not Accepted Any New Conditions From PDP

BJP Says It Has Not Accepted Any New Conditions From PDP

Mehbooba Mufti had announced that she would decide on the next course of action after the meeting.

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today asserted that it has not accepted any new conditions from People's Democratic Party (PDP) 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.

Party General Secretary Ram Madhav's assertion came a day after Ms Mufti'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," Mr Madhav told PTI.

The talks between Prime Minister Modi and Ms Mufti 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 Mufti 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 Prime Minister Modi were seen as a breakthrough.

Asked about prospects of government formation, Mr Madhav said PDP has to make the next move as he noted that its legislature party is meeting tomorrow.

BJP sources said Mehbooba Mufti has been told to discuss the nitty-gritty of the alliance with the saffron party leadership.

Mehbooba Mufti had announced yesterday that she would decide on the next course of action after the meeting.

BJP on its part has maintained that it remains committed to the "Agenda of Alliance", a document for the alliance government agreed between the BJP and PDP then headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

Mr Madhav had last week stated that any new demand which Ms Mufti 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 Mufti 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".
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