Manmohan on mission Kashmir

With the PDP refusing to budge an inch on the issue of government formation in J-K, the Congress today decided to despatch senior leader Man...

With the PDP refusing to budge an inch on the issue of government formation in J-K, the Congress today decided to despatch senior leader Manmohan Singh to Srinagar to talk things out with PDP chief Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

The Congress is reportedly willing to offer the Deputy CM’s chair to Mehbooba Mufti to clinch a deal with PDP. J-K Congress Legislature Party chief Ghulam Nabi Azad, who will accompany Manmohan Singh to Srinagar, said: ‘‘We want to send the signal that nothing has changed, even after Governor’s rule. We are still keen on an alliance with PDP.”

According to agency reports, Sonia today talked on the phone with PDP chief Mufti Mohammed Sayeed in a bid to break the deadlock over chief ministership. She made the move after talking with Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ambika Soni, Ashok Bhan, and state CPI(M) leaders.

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The decision to send Singh was taken at a meeting today convened by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi here. Senior leaders, including J-K Congress Legislature Party chief Ghulam Nabi Azad, attended the meeting.

Sonia’s political advisor Ambika Soni today said that Manmohan would talk not only to Mufti but to all those persons and parties supporting the Congress.

Refusing to be drawn into the issue of chief ministership, Soni said the topic did not come up when Sonia and Mufti met recently. ‘‘The two leaders discussed only the common minimum programme as their manifestoes are totally different.’’

When asked if there are possibilities of the Congress relenting to PDP pressure on the chief ministership issue, Soni, without giving a direct reply, said: ‘‘We have to respect the sentiments of all three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.’’ Also, she added, it was a ground reality that the Congress, a major party in the state Assembly with support from all Independent MLAs, can not be ignored.

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On Panthers Party chief Bhim Singh’s closed-door meeting with NC leader Farooq Abdullah, Soni said: ‘‘Singh has given in writing his party’s support to Congress.’’

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