Governor’s rule in Kashmir proposed
Recommendation to President follows BJP’s withdrawal from ruling alliance
In a surprise move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) yesterday pulled out of the three-year-old ruling coalition with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir and called for governor’s rule, after which Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti quit.
Governor N.N. Vohra recommended imposition of Central rule in his report to President Ram Nath Kovind, a copy of which was also forwarded to the Union Home Ministry, according to a Raj Bhavan spokesperson. Kovind is currently abroad.
BJP general secretary Ram Madhav made the announcement that the party was withdrawing support to the coalition government.
The announcement came after the BJP high command summoned its Jammu and Kashmir ministers for emergency consultations in New Delhi. The state government has been wracked by bitter political feuds and worsening security challenges.
A few hours later, Mufti, 59, submitted her resignation to the governor amid a swirl of political activity in Srinagar and New Delhi.
“It has become untenable for the BJP to continue in the alliance government in Jammu and Kashmir,” Madhav told reporters.
Just days after the central government decided not to extend the Ramadan ceasefire, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-People’s Democratic Party (PDP) coalition government collapsed in Jammu and Kashmir (J & K) yesterday, with the former pulling out of the alliance, describing it “untenable”.
The BJP said it had become impossible to continue in the government in view of growing terrorism in the state.
“It has become untenable for the BJP to continue the alliance with PDP. Keeping in mind that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and in order to control the prevailing situation in the state, we have decided that the reins of power in the state be handed over to the governor,” BJP’s J & K in-charge Ram Madhav told media.
Defending the decision to pull out support two years before time, Madhav said: “The fundamental rights of citizens including right to life and free speech are in danger. After the killing of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari two days before Eid, there was no question of not continuing anti-terror operations.”
Madhav said the decision to withdraw support was taken after consulting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah.
Hours later, PDP head and state Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti handed in her resignation to Governor NN Vohra.
Mufti said alliance with BJP was not for grabbing power.
“We can’t have a muscular policy in Jammu and Kashmir. We were not a part of an alliance just for power. The alliance was about dialogue, unilateral ceasefire and making sure the PM has an open route to talk to Pakistan. We took back cases against 11,000 youths, we have tried the best from our side to continue this alliance. I have submitted my resignation to the governor and have told him that we are not looking to explore any other alliance,” Mufti said.
In the 89-member state legislative assembly, BJP has 25 legislators, PDP 28, Omar Abdullah’s National Conference (NC) 15, Congress 12 and others seven.
Governor’s rule is now likely to be imposed in the state.
Reacting to the development, opposition leader Omar Abdullah said Mufti should have resigned much earlier.
“We are mourning the demise of democracy in the state. We are not celebrating this situation. It’s the Governor’s decision to dissolve the assembly, not mine. If you don’t think the situation is dire in J & K after what has happened, then I don’t know what constitutes as dire. Mehbooba Mufti should have pulled out of the alliance, not the BJP. She should have taken the decision earlier, rather than having the rug pulled out from under her,” Abdullah said.
The NC chief called for fresh elections.
“As of now we are headed towards a Governor’s rule but the people of Kashmir do not deserve to live in Governor’s rule. Fresh elections should be held very soon. We will not stake claim to forming the government. The people should be allowed to decide for themselves,” Abdullah stated.
I am not shocked as this alliance was never for power. PDP never believes in power politics and we worked for the people. We had always said muscular security policy will not work in J&K.”
Mehbooba Mufti | outgoing J&K Chief Minister
It has become untenable for the BJP to continue in the alliance government in the state.”
Ram Madhav | BJP general secretary
Both these parties have pushed the state to this precipice and we can only hope that with an able administrator like Governor Vohra … that we can begin the process of retrieving this state from the dark abyss that we are staring down.”
Omar Abdullah | National Conference working president