J&K govt formation: ‘Few hitches’ in BJP-PDP deal, Mufti-Modi meet may be delayed

Among the “hitches”, sources said, is the mention of Hurriyat in the reference to the dialogue process in their “Agenda for the Alliance”, and the “roundabout” way in which the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been dealt with.

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They added that while the BJP didn’t want to refer to the Hurriyat along with “all stakeholders” in the agenda, the PDP felt that the roadmap for AFSPA was a “climbdown” for the party.

The alliance had formally been announced on Tuesday by BJP president Amit Shah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti during a joint press conference after a closed-door meeting. The details of the alliance have been recorded in a 11-page booklet that has been printed and prepared for distribution.

Referring to the peace process in Kashmir, the document talks about starting a “dialogue process with all stakeholders, including Hurriyat”.

Sources said that the BJP now wants the line to end with “all stakeholders”. The PDP, meanwhile, is keen to name the Hurriyat because “it gives the offer an added legitimacy”, they added.

“Our view is that the earlier NDA government has had direct talks with the Hurriyat and this move would only be a continuation of its policy,’’ a PDP leader said, adding, “Earlier, (the then) Deputy PM L K Advani spoke to Hurriyat. They (NDA) even declared a ceasefire and held talks with militants.”

The concern in the BJP, however, is linked to the Centre’s decision to cancel Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan last year after the Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit met with Hurriyat leaders, sources said. “We understand their concern but it isn’t a serious issue that can’t be put in the right context. There isn’t any mention of Hurriyat talks with Pakistan,” the leader said.

Similarly, the PDP is not happy at the way the issue of AFSPA has been dealt with in the document.

“For PDP, it is a climbdown. While the issue has been addressed in a roundabout way and there is scope to see AFSPA withdrawn by denotifying the Disturbed Areas Act from an area, it isn’t enough,’’ the PDP leader said.

“After all, the decision to declare an area peaceful is within the purview of the Army and the security agencies which makes such a decision subservient to the Central government. And security agencies have not agreed to lift AFSPA as well as the Disturbed Areas Act,” he added.

The Agenda had provided a nuanced roadmap for AFSPA starting with denotifying the Disturbed Areas Act in certain areas.
Sources in PDP said that Mufti was also “not happy” with a few other details and has asked his pointmen to iron them out before finalising the date for the meeting.