Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 19: The PDP-BJP alliance in Jammu and Kashmir is feared to land in crisis as some ministers from the PDP are planning to submit their resignation to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in the coming days, theEarly Times has learnt.
Highly placed sources said that some of the PDP ministers, who also happen to be senior leaders in the party, are planning to "resign in surprise" following the controversy which has erupted in the wake of their Cabinet colleague having told media that they were "partners in crime" by running government in Jammu and Kashmir in alliance with the BJP.
Recently, a powerful minster in the state government, had given an exclusive interview to a New Delhi-based newspaper saying that the developments unfolding in the state were so unfortunate that by being in power, the PDP was "partner in the crime."
The "partner in crime" phrase had already led to a major confrontation between him and his Cabinet colleague during the crucial meeting of PDP held on April 14.
At the meeting held at Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's residence here under her chairpersonship, a minister in his late 40s, whose uncle is also MLA, had confronted the party on the "partners in crime" remarks.
The minister had told the meeting that by virtue of the remark, all of them are supposed to be deemed criminals. "Why shouldn't this crime end through resignations," the minister had asked.
Though some senior leaders had tried to dilute the matter pleading that "crime phrase" was used in "lighter veins", the controversy has declined to die down as massive public outrage is only rising with each passing moment.
Sources said around half a dozen senior PDP leaders have decided to call meeting with their "like-minded" party colleagues to decide on their decision to resign.
Sources said the "like-minded" lobby will fly to the summer capital for the meeting scheduled to be held on the this weekend.
"As per the initial plan the meeting will be held on Saturday or Sunday at the residence of one of the PDP ministers, after which a unanimous decision, which as of now is supposed to be joint resignation will be drafted," said a man privy to such confidential deliberations.
"As of now, the point is simple. No sane person and man of integrity will continue to be partner in crime. So let's see who all want to be stay back as criminals and who want to go for 'Praschit'," said the source. |
