BJP quits ruling coalition in Jammu and Kashmir: Citing deteriorating security situation in the state, BJP pulled out of the three-year-long alliance with PDP leading to the fall of the J&K government.
“Keeping in mind that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and in order to control the prevailing situation in the state, we have decided that the reins of power in the state be handed over to the governor,” BJP national spokesperson Ram Madhav told journalists.
The differences between the BJP and the PDP cropped up following the government’s decision to resume anti-terror operations in the state, which were suspended during Ramzan.
“Terrorism, violence and radicalization have risen and fundamental rights of the citizens are under danger in the Valley. Shujaat Bukhari’s killing is an example,” Madhav added.
*Congress rules out alliance with PDP: That question does not arise (on forming an alliance with PDP),” Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said.
The Congress leader added that the BJP had committed a “Himalayan blunder” by forming a government with the PDP. He said the BJP, a national party, should not have allied with PDP, a regional player.
*Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti resigns: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti submitted her resignation to Governor NN Vohra.
Immediately after she learnt about the BJP’s decision, Mehbooba Mufti rushed to Raj Bhawan. Later she called an emergency meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
*National Conference leader Omar Abdullah meets J&K governor: Opposition National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah called on governor Vohra. Following his meeting with the governor, Abdullah said his party would not stake claim to form the government in the state since it did not have the mandate.
“I have met the Governor just now. I told him that the NC did not have mandate in 2014 nor it has in 2018.”
“We are not in talks with anyone to form the government. Nobody has approached us. We are also not going to approach anyone,” the former Chief Minister told reporters.
*Mehbooba Mufti addresses press conference after tendering resignation: Later in the day, Mehbooba Mufti addressed the press and raised the bogey of Article 370 and unilateral ceasefire, saying the muscular security policy will not work in the state and reconciliation is the key.
“I am not shocked as this alliance was never for power. PDP never believes in power politics and we worked for the people,” she told reporters after an hour-long meeting with her ministers and party workers at her residence.
Mehbooba maintained that Jammu and Kashmir was not an enemy territory as being perceived by few. “We had always said muscular security policy will not work in J-K, reconciliation is key,” she said. She also cited the withdrawal of 11,000 cases against stone-pelters, unilateral ceasefire during Ramzan and PM Modi’s visit to the Lahore in 2015.
*Rahul Gandhi holds PDP-BJP’s “opportunistic alliance” responsible for the security situation in the state: Congress president Rahul Gandhi said that the “opportunistic BJP-PDP alliance” set fire to Jammu and Kashmir, killing many innocent civilians and brave soldiers, and that the damage would continue even if the state was put under central rule.
Under the alliance government in the strategically important state, several innocent people and brave soldiers were killed. “It cost India strategically & destroyed years of UPA’s hard work. The damage will continue under President’s rule (sic),” he tweeted.
*Rajnath Singh holds high-level meeting: Home Minister Rajnath Singh held a high-level meeting at his residence with Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, and senior officials of the Intelligence Bureau and his ministry to assess the ground situation in the sensitive state.
*Governor’s rule recommended in J&K: Governor Vohra on June 19 evening suggested to the Union Home Ministry that Governor’s Rule should be imposed for six months in the state after the PDP-BJP coalition collapsed, official sources said.
After concluding his consultations with all the major political parties in J&K, governor Vohra forwarded his report to the President of India for imposition of Governor’s Rule under Section 92 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir. (The Jammu and Kashmir Constitution provides for Governor’s Rule unlike other states which see President’s Rule.)
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