In an interview with Timesnow, PM Narendra Modi had admitted that the BJP and PDP alliance in Jammu and Kashmir was a mahamilavat. However, he also commented on the situation in the state under the previous two governments and suggested that the situation is somewhat better under Mufti Muhammad Saeed.
PM Modi asserted that the alliance was the only option since neither of the party had got the required number of seats to form a government. He said, “I concede that such mahamilawat (alliances) have short lives. It was the need of the hour and we went ahead with it.”
Talking about governance under Mufti Mohammed, PM Modi said, “The developmental work was given priority under Mufti government. The construction of hospitals, roads and schools picked up the pace under his governance. We thought other issues could be kept aside and the work for the common people should not halt.”
After Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s demise in January 2016, his daughter Mehbooba Mufti became the chief minister of the state. Speaking about the issue what might be one of the reasons for the rift between BJP and PDP, Modi asserted that Mehbooba was not in favour to have Panchayat elections that were needed for the development of the state. “We had a firm belief that if the state has to progress, it was necessary to empower panchayats. They will have to be allocated funds directly from the centre. We would have to trust them with the responsibility of carrying out development work at their level. She was unwilling to give in,” PM Modi said.
