Putting an end to days of speculation, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti resigned on Tuesday. The announcement comes days after the Bharatiya Janata Party ended its alliance with her People’s Democratic Party, TV news channels reported.
Post resignation, the former CM said:
"I have submitted my resignation to the Governor. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had entered into this alliance, thinking that BJP is a big party which had got a big mandate," Mehbooba Mufti said
Though BJP has pulled out of the alliance with #PDP, we will still keep standing with our agendas and will try for dialogue to restore peace in the region: Former #JammuAndKashmir CM #MehboobaMufti
— India TV (@indiatvnews) June 19, 2018
Further she added, "The healing touch policy of PDP is the only policy which will work in Jammu and Kashmir. Muscular policy won't work in Jammu and Kashmir."
"We did not enter into this alliance for power" - Mehbooba Mufti
"We had not entered into this alliance for power. The bigger objective for this alliance was unilateral ceasefire, peace in the Valley, talks with Pakistan. We did not do this for power," said the outgoing chief minister.
I have told governor we will not go into any other alliance, says #MehboobaMufti after submitting resignation as CM.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 19, 2018
I am not shocked. We didn't do this alliance for power. This alliance had a bigger motive- unilateral ceasefire, PM's visit to Pakistan, withdrawal of cases against 11,000 youth: #MehboobaMufti pic.twitter.com/yNZf0VPqiR
— India TV (@indiatvnews) June 19, 2018
She was the first woman Chief Minister of the state. Now, with the CM's chair vacant, the militancy-affected state is in a political crisis
ANI quotes PDP's Naeem Akhtar: We will talk in detail at 5pm, meanwhile Mehbooba Mufti has submitted her resignation (as J&K CM) to the Governor pic.twitter.com/5mZp61dduE
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) June 19, 2018
As expected, the CM had called an emergency meeting of her party ministers earlier today and resigned.
The Bharatiya Janata Party pulled out of alliance with Mehbooba Mufti's People Democratic Party in Jammu and Kashmir.
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) June 19, 2018
Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/3iI6emQTZ0 pic.twitter.com/VFHlQ2Ybbc
“It has become untenable for the BJP to continue with the alliance in Jammu and Kashmir,” said senior BJP leader Ram Madhav at a press conference in Delhi, Hindustan Times reported.
“Given the security situation, and the need to handle the situation, we feel Governor’s rule was necessary,” said Madhav, adding that the state will now possibly go under the central government’s administration. Not only the Chief Minister but also eleven BJP ministers of the state government resigned hours after meeting BJP president Amit Shah in Delhi.
Keeping in mind larger interest of India's security and integrity, fact is that J&K is an integral part of India, in order to bring control over the situation prevailing in the state we have decided that the reigns of power in the state be handed over to the Governor: Ram Madhav pic.twitter.com/RauqGYtAQn
— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2018
The BJP decision was taken after the "situation worsened in the state". The Kathua rape case worked as a build-up to the chaos. Also, the relationship with the PDP became "untenable", said national general secretary Ram Madhav. He said the decision to withdraw support was taken as “it became untenable for BJP to continue in alliance with PDP in Jammu & Kashmir”.
Madhav said “terrorism, violence and radicalisation has increased in the Valley”
To add more fuel to the fire, the recent murder of senior journalist and Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari worsened the situation. Madhav said “fundamental rights have come under threat in the Valley”.
We have taken a decision, it is untenable for BJP to continue in alliance with PDP in Jammu & Kashmir, hence we are withdrawing: Ram Madhav, BJP pic.twitter.com/NWsmr7Io9e
— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2018
Also Read: Landmark: Mehbooba Mufti is Kashmir’s first woman chief minister
“Keeping in mind the larger interest of India's security and integrity, the fact is that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, and in order to control the situation prevailing in the state, we have decided that the rein of power in the state be handed over to the Governor,” Madhav said.
ANI quotes Ghulam Nabi Azad: Whatever has happened is good. People of J&K will get some relief. They (BJP) ruined Kashmir & have now pulled out, maximum number of civilian & army men died during these 3 years. That question does not arise (on forming alliance with PDP). pic.twitter.com/kmhlKMqxGQ
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) June 19, 2018
The two-party alliance was formed in 2014.
Feature Image Credit: ohmyindia.com