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| Paying deaf ear to suggestion of defence minister proved costly for PDP-BJP coalition govt | | Despite reservations New Delhi went ahead with Ramadan ceasefire | | Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
srinagar, June 27: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) government in Jammu & Kashmir that saw an expected, but abrupt end on June 19 would have been alive and kicking had the Government of India listened to the suggestion of its own minister.
Days before the announcement of Ramadan ceasefire by New Delhi, Defence Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman had ruled out the same saying that ceasefire is not thought of by the people at helm in New Delhi. The central government did not listen to the suggestion of the defence minister thus leading to the end of the PDP-BJP government in the state.
Extension of the ceasefire or otherwise turned up as a bone of contention between the two coalition partners thus leading to an end of the coalition government. While the PDP favoured for extension of ceasefire their counterparts in the BJP held a different view and wanted an end to the Ramadan ceasefire at the earliest.
On May 17, New Delhi announced the Ramadan ceasefire following which directions were issued to security forces not to carry out any anti-militancy operation in the state unless attacked by the militants. The ceasefire was rejected by the militants and they termed the same as a 'drama' enacted by Government of India.
Sources told Early Times that the rejection of ceasefire did not go well with the Government of India especially some of the top ranking officers in the Home Ministry. The view of these officials was quite opposite to that of the Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The Home Minister was quite vocal and wanted the ceasefire to be extended.
"It was due to the difference of opinion that the Home Minister could not make any commitment to extend the ceasefire or not when he arrived on a two day visit to Jammu & Kashmir on June 7-8. The security forces officials made it clear to the Home Ministry officials that they cannot afford to be lame ducks since the militants did not stop their activities during the Ramadan ceasefire," said sources.
Sources said that since there was nobody available in the PDP who would advise the chief minister Mehbooba Mufti about the future course of action. Most of the PDP leaders have turned 'yes madam' men in the party and they are not able in a position to call a spade a spade without thinking of the consequences thereof. As such the PDP could not take any decision to pull out of the coalition government.
"The central leadership of BJP virtually outsmarted the PDP leadership and decided to pull out of the coalition government in the state. The PDP leaders were caught wondering as what happened to the BJP as soon as the later came out of the coalition. The job supposed to be carried out by PDP was done by the BJP," said sources.
Sources said that at the end of the day the defence minister had the last laugh as the Ramadan ceasefire was not extended but not at the cost of the fall of PDP-BJP government in Jammu & Kashmir. |
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