Muftis want a house, not Farooq’s

Located in the high security zone of the city, the structure of the house is already up but work is still to be completed.

Speaking at her father’s residence in Nowgam in Srinagar, Mehbooba told The Indian Express: ‘‘We would have liked to have stayed on in our own house here but security agencies have ruled it out and I can see the inconvenience it is already causing our neighbours.’’

The hunt is on for a house to which the new CM can move in Srinagar. Some suggested Fairview, the sprawling bungalow in which former Chief Secretary Ashok Jaitly lived. But then, before Jaitly converted it into the Chief Secretary’s official residence overlooking the Dal Lake, it was used as an interrogation centre. So Mufti is not expected to move there.

‘‘We want to move to a place where people can come easily and mass contact is possible,’’ Mehbooba said. Even the Muftis’ house-hunting is meant to send a signal of a government more responsive to the people.

Just as Mehbooba’s decision to remain out of her father’s government was meant to distance the PDP from the family rule associated with the Abdullahs, so is the decision to move to a ‘‘more ordinary house.’’

Speaking of her decision to stay out of the Government, Mehbooba said: ‘‘I would like to be available for people in general and listen to their problems, give feedack to our ministers and see what can be done to help. Once you are a minister and there is the official load to deal with, contact with people recedes.’’