NC asks PDP to deliver or break BJP alliance

With the stalemate over government formation in Jammu and Kashmir persisting, the Opposition National Conference (NC) on Friday asked its arch-rival, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to either break what it said was its opportunistic and unholy alliance with the BJP or start delivering on the political and economic promises it had made ahead of the elections and in their “Agenda of the Alliance”.

It also suggested that if the PDP is reluctant to form a new government with its alliance partner it should pave the way for holding fresh state elections.

In a statement here, NC chief spokesperson Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi said there was absolutely no reason for people to trust the PDP again after it took two months to finalise a common minimum programme with the BJP and spent the next 10 months declaring how well this alliance was delivering but “actually wasted these precious months in perpetuating one theatrical performance after another”.

“All of a sudden after Mufti Sahib’s demise PDP leaders want people to believe they have discovered their suppressed collective conscience by openly admitting they have been lying for the past 10 months and want to start lying from scratch yet again,” he said, adding, “Almost every single PDP leader, including Mehbooba Mufti, praised the PDP-BJP alliance countless times in the past 10 months. Mufti Sahib himself kept reposing faith in PDP’s alliance with the BJP till his last breath.”

Mr Mehdi asked that if Mufti Sayeed was in fact humiliated by the BJP, as Mehbooba Mufti is now indicating through her posturing, what prevented him from speaking up and breaking his pact with the BJP “Why didn’t Mehbooba Mufti speak up What happened to her duties and love as a daughter for the past 10 months ”

The NC chief spokesperson said the PDP swallowed all insults and humiliation for the past 10 months for the sole reason of remaining in power at any cost. “Not only did PDP willingly subject itself to humiliation but it also compromised on the honour and dignity of the state and its people to remain in power. The fact that PDP can stoop to any depth to attain political power is an established fact now and no amount of theatrical melodrama from Mehbooba Mufti can hide this truth,” he said.

Another question Mr Mehdi posed to the PDP president was: “Did it take you and PDP 10 months to realise that all political promises, made with great fanfare and aplomb in the ‘Agenda of the Alliance’, stand at the bottom of a trash can ” He also asked: “What was PDP’s compulsion to remain apologetic for 10 months despite a public discrediting of the ‘Agenda of the Alliance’ by the BJP ”

Mr Mehdi said, “This new-found belated morality is a facade and a desperate attempt by PDP and Mehbooba Mufti to fool the people into believing that PDP is actually motivated by some sort of ideological conviction when, in reality, their only guiding light is power.” He added, “If PDP is truly not hungry for power at the cost of its own dignity and, much more importantly that of the state, it should break its opportunistic alliance with the BJP and give the people a chance to decide their fate in fresh elections rather than asking the Prime Minister for a face-saver.”

He alleged, “While PDP is busy enacting a drama of a review in the media about its new-found conscience, it is unrelenting in seeking a face-saver from the Prime Minister to market as some sort of triumph that would enable it to continue with its alliance with the BJP.” The NC chief spokesman asserted that the PDP has two very clear options — “It can either break its alliance with the BJP or start delivering on the promises they had made in the ‘Agenda of the Alliance’. Everything else constitutes delusional exercises in futility.”