The People's Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday said the talks with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over government formation in Jammu and Kashmir has reached an advanced stage but added that there are some issues on which some more effort is to be needed.
"The talks are continuing, they have reached an advanced stage. There has been significant process but there are some issues on which some more effort is to be needed and only after that the CMP (Common Minimum Programme) will be finalised," said senior PDP leader and chief spokesperson Naeem Akhtar.
"It is a matter of governing the country's most sensitive state by two different parties and making best out of a split verdict and what we have been saying converting it into a historic opportunity," he added.
Akhtar also hit back at former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah for his assertion that the agreement between the PDP and BJP was reached much earlier.
"Where is Omar Sahab by the way? Is he in the state or in the country? Tweets can fly from anywhere. He perhaps (might) not be knowing the realities of Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
Omar had earlier claimed that the agreement between the PDP and BJP was reached much earlier but the regional party was enacting a 'drama' all these days to undo the damage it may have to undergo in the Valley.
"The PDP-BJP tie up was a done deal ages ago, all this was just (PDP patron) Mufti (Mohammad) Sayeed's grandstanding as a tough guy to undo the damage in the Valley," Omar tweeted.
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"Only an idiot would have concluded that Mufti Sayeed's drama over the last few days meant PDP-BJP were actually having difficulty joining up," he said in another tweet.
Meanwhile, the BJP today categorically said that it would not enter into any compromise with the PDP to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir, adding that the future course of action would be decided only after both sides arrive at an understanding.
"We both the parties, PDP and BJP, we are trying sincerely to arrive at an understanding on the common minimum programme for governance. There are a couple of political issues on which traditionally we have held different views. We are trying hard to find the common ground. If compromise was to be made by either side there would have been a solution long ago," BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said.
"We are working on arriving at a common understanding and how to present these views as part of the larger governance agenda. Until that common understanding is arrived at no progress is possible," he added.
Madhav also said that the issue is about creating a mutually acceptable position and not to compromise.
The PDP and BJP have been in talks over government formation in Jammu and Kashmir ever since the results of the assembly polls threw up a hung assembly.
The PDP emerged as the single-largest party winning 28 seats in the polls. The BJP won 25 seats while the National Conference and Congress won 15 and 12 seats respectively.