Srinagar: National General Secretary of the BJP, Ram Madhav, had said that Mehbooba Mufti, the CM of Jammu and Kashmir or the PDP-BJP alliance cannot decide on Indo-Pak talks.
In an interview to the Indian Express, Madhav said, “Talking or not talking to Pakistan is not for the Jammu and Kashmir alliance to decide, but the government of India. Mehboobaji can have a view, because she feels that if the two governments talk to each other, there could be de-escalation of violence. But the alliance cannot take a view, its view is limited to the affairs of the state,” Madhav said.
ALSO READ: A day after Mehbooba’s call for Indo-Pak talks, her alliance partner BJP says ‘not the right time’
“Having said that, there can be a view that talks are necessary for restoring peace along the LoC. This does not mean that Pakistan will get away with all the wrongdoing,” he added.
He stressed that Mehbooba is allowed her view be she cannot take the final call on it.
‘If the CM feels India-Pakistan talks will help contain infiltration and bring peace in the Valley, allow her to have her view. But she is not going to decide it,” Madhav pointed out.
The National General Secretary of the ruling BJP mentioned that apart from certain ‘ideological and issue based differences’, the PDP-BJP alliance is in ‘perfect tandem’.
ALSO READ: LoC violations: Mehbooba saddened over death of woman, calls for Indo-Pak talks
“The two parties are working in perfect tandem. No alliance is easy, most have small issues… you have seen it in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh. Even traditional partners have issues. Compared to that, the alliance has had smooth sailing. That does not mean we agree on each and every issue. But in spite of those ideological and issue-based differences, the two parties have been able to run affairs quite smoothly,’ he told the Indian Express.
