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| aye Bye coalition: PDP likely to sing | | |
JAMMU | FEB 5
Feeling dejected over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh having refused its demand on withdrawal of troops from the militancy infested state, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leadership is all set to quit the coalition.
The PDP is in all likelihood going to take this decision as the signal of delivering its pledge among the Kashmir masses claiming that the issue was an 'article of faith for it'. However, what might pull it back to remain stuck to the Congress led coalition is the fear that the party gets disintegrates once it leaves the power lobby.
Having already faced with a setback in the shape of the senior leader Romesh Mottan announcing to quit the party, only on ‘troops reduction’ issue, the PDP top brass has been left with no choice than to re-think over its strategies.
Political observers believe that even as the party decides to redesign its strategies vis-à-vis Kashmir situation, the immediate face saving step the party is likely to take is – snapping off of its ties from the coalition, particularly the Congress.
Political sources disclosed that the final decision in this regard would come only after PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti returns to state from New Delhi where she has been camping for last few days to garner support for party’s demand on troop reduction and revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
PDP Patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has exchanged notes with his daughter, Mehbooba, before she left for New Delhi, on the issue. She has been at the forefront of the campaign for reduction of troops and revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Jammu and Kashmir.
She has met the prime minister, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister A.K. Antony. She has argued that troops cut and quashing of the special powers of security forces would energize the peace process and bring more confidence among the people.
The PDP chief was challenging Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad's statement that the situation was not ripe for demilitarization or doing away with special powers given to security forces to fight separatists.
However, with the prime minister endorsing the chief minister's stand, the PDP has felt dejected and thus is waving wings to leave the coalition.
The issue of troop’s withdrawal has already aggravated the relations between the two major coalition partners Congress and PDP after which the later took the issue to Delhi to put its case before Central leadership. However, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh yesterday categorically assertion that the ‘troops will not be pulled out of the border state for now’ has splashed cold water on all the hopes of PDP.
If sources are to be believed, the rejection of demand by PM has greatly upset Chief Patron PDP Mufti Sayed and rumours are rife that he is bracing up for pulling out off the coalition. There are also reports that Mufti has already asked its party ministers to be prepared for tendering resignation. PDP presently have four cabinet ministers and three Ministers of State in the state council.
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