State in crisis but Mehbooba opts to attend LS session

Doesn’t want decision viewed as blackmail

There seems to be no end to the stalemate over government formation as PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has decided to attend the Budget session of Parliament beginning from February 23.
The hardening of her stand can be disappointing for the people of the state who want an early solution to the stalemate and have been waiting for close to a month for the formation of a new government.
Sources say Mehbooba doesn’t want her new decision to be viewed as a blackmailing or bargaining tactic but seeks a clear answer from the Central government over confidence-building measures, which she conveyed to the Governor during a meeting on February 2.
“If an atmosphere is not created which will provide a way forward to the new government and create goodwill among people then we will do what is best for our party,” Mehbooba said while addressing office-bearers of Jammu province at the party headquarters here today.
In her 22-minute speech, Mehbooba, accompanied by her brother Tassaduq Mufti, talked about the legacy of her father Mufti Sayeed, saying that he was not after power. “My father never completed his term in office because he chose principles over power and the legacy of my father is sacred for me. In his 55-year political career, he hardly spent 10-11 years in the chair and the rest of his life was dedicated to the people,” Mehbooba said, giving a clear message to the alliance partner BJP
and the Centre that she would not hesitate to snap ties if the confidence-building measures were not addressed.
Since January 7, after the death of Mufti Sayeed, the suspense over government formation has continued. Mehbooba has claimed that Mufti was made to run from pillar to post by the Centre even for constituency development funds. At her meeting with the Governor, she insisted on full support from the Central government and demanded confidence-building measures before forming the new government.
With the PDP yet to receive a “positive” answer from the Centre, Mehbooba has hardened her stand and decided to attend the Parliament session.