We wanted Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Narendra Modi: Mehbooba Mufti
Srinagar : Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti showed interest in implementing an idea given by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee - 'Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat and Jamhooriyat'. She also pointed that people of Kashmir wanted to see Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Narendra Modi.
In her first interview to a national TV channel post separation from ' Bharatiya Janata Party', Mehbooba said that only political process, as started by Vajpayee, can end the bloodshed in the state.
"A political process was started by Vajpayee. We share his legacy; we don't have to invent any new wheels. The process of dialogue with Kashmiris and reconciliation with Pakistan wasn't taken forward by either UPA 1 and UPA 2. Even the NDA government could not move forward with it. there is disillusionment. Unfortunately, terrorists have taken advantage of this and violence has been increasing," the PDP leader said.
"People got disappointed because they wanted to see a Vajpayee in Modi; that never happened. They had expectations from us too," Mehbooba said.
But Modi too said in his 72nd Independence Day speech that the government will move forward in J&K by embracing all, not by goli (bullet) and gaali (abuses). Isn't he speaking Vajpayee's language? "It is not about speaking anyone's language; it is walking the talk," Mehbooba quipped.
"Vajpayee was the first person who announced form the ramparts of the Red Fort that free and fair polls would be held in J&K in 2002. The number of voters increased and he PDP- Congress government was legitimate in the eyes of Kashmiris. He initiated dialogue with Hurriyat without imposing any conditions. Vajpayee went to Lahore and Pervez Musharraf agreed to a ceasefire that lasted for eight years and promised that Pakistan won't be used for infiltration and militancy-both were reduced," Mehbooba added.
Stressing that it is not about Governor's Rule or President's Rule or for that matter a popular government in the state, the former CM said, "In J&K, it is a political problem. It is about striking a balance between the political process and good governance. Unless we don't have a political process and restore peace, we cannot provide a good governance because there will be no accountability."
