PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said peace in the region cannot be restored until India and Pakistan stop confrontation. (PTI file photo)
Maintaining suspense over government formation in Jammu and Kashmir, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti today said she will take a decision while keeping in mind the "dignity, honour and welfare" of the people of the state.
"If I take a step, it is not that I want to be a cut above. I want that if we form the government, its benefit should reach the people here," she said addressing party workers while launching the membership drive in Anantnag district of south Kashmir.
"It is not that (I want) I will become a chief minister, there would be ministers and we will have a fleet of cars with four flags. But, when the people of the state, its youth or its regions do not reap any benefits of that (government), and when we cannot play a role in bringing peace here, then tell me what will I do with that chair," Ms Mehbooba Mufti said.
Jammu and Kashmir has been under Governor's Rule since January 8, imposed a day after Ms Mehbooba Mufti's father and then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed passed away suddenly.
Since then, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, whose party is the largest with 27 legislators in the 87-member House, has been maintaining suspense over the government formation. PDP and 25-member BJP had run a 10-month coalition government before Mr Sayeed's demise.
The PDP leader said her party will take a decision over government formation keeping in mind the dignity, honour and welfare of the people of the state.
"Mufti sahib used to tell me that he has not done anything for the workers and it is your (Mehbooba's) responsibility now. You trusted Mufti sahib blindly, but trust me with open eyes.
"Whatever decision we take, it will not be for personal interest but it cannot be just for the workers only. That (decision) will be for the nation. We will take that decision in which there is dignity, honour and welfare for us (people of the state)," she said.
The PDP president said peace in the region cannot be restored until India and Pakistan stop confrontation and the danger to the sustenance of peace was the biggest challenge for her party.
"Peace cannot be sustained until both the nations stop the confrontation and sit together and respect each other. Nothing can be achieved by suspecting each other," she said.
"I have said it repeatedly that National Conference or Congress is not the challenge for me or my party, but the biggest challenge is the danger to the peace the basis of which was laid by Mufti sahib in November 2002, the basis of Indo-Pak friendship, the ceasefire on borders and opening of roads (on Line of Control)," she said.
She said the challenge is thousands of educated youth who are unemployed and some of whom are picking up guns.
"Our challenge is our resources. The EDI building on which crores of rupees were spent was destroyed a few days ago (in an encounter with militants at Pampore)," she said.