A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced that it was pulling out of the alliance with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir, the party’s senior leader Ram Madhav said that the BJP had reached the decision to focus on the "larger national interest" over "local political interest."
In an interview with CNN-News18, Madhav, BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir in-charge, talked about what led to the party’s decision of pulling the plug on the alliance that was once termed "historic".
Madhav, who was instrumental in forming the alliance in 2015, told the news channel that Jammu and Kashmir needs Governor’s rule "for some period atleast."
The Split
Ram Madhav called the alliance "experimental” and admitted that both the parties stood poles apart in terms of ideology.
But he claimed that what led the collaboration to crumble was BJP’s focus on "larger national interest" and PDP weighing more on "local political interest".
On Ramzan Ceasefire
In the interview with the news channel, Madhav said that Centre’s decision to suspend counter-terror operations in the month of Ramzan was a "gesture of goodwill, not a sign of any weakness.”
He added that both the parties had opposing views on whether the Ramzan ceasefire should be continued after the holy month. “Despite the daylight killing of Shujaat Bukhari, it was expected that suspension of operations should continue. We felt that there was a growing mismatch,” Madhav told CNN-News18.
On Mehbooba Mufti
In a press conference after resigning as chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti had said that “muscular policies” would never work, and that the state can’t be treated as “enemy territory.” Madhav said he disagreed with the usage of the term, adding “not controlling killing of policemen and journalists like Bhukari is a soft approach.”
When asked about not informing Mehbooba Mufti prior announcing the split, Madhav claimed that he did try to reach her, but by the time he could, a fax had already gone out to the governor.
On Elections in Anantnag Constituency
Ram Madhav admitted that the BJP-PDP "lacked political will” to hold by-elections the Anantnag. He again blamed Mufti for the failure, saying she feared the bypoll would lead to more violence.
The Anantnag Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after the resignation of the incumbent MP and Mehbooba Mufti in 2016, who took over as chief minister of the state.
On Talks With Hurriyat Leaders
Ram Madhav claimed that the BJP government has tried its best to bring Hurriyat leaders to the negotiation table, but they have never agreed.
Lastly, when asked by CNN-News18’s Marya Shakil if Madhav was sad that the alliance with BJP-PDP ended, he answered in affirmative, saying “At some level, yes.”
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