PDP president Mehbooba Mufti today said her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's decision to ally with BJP was "carved in stone" but the agenda of alliance between two parties was equally important and a forward movement on its implementation was a pre-requisite for government formation.
"For me the decision of my father is 'Patther ki lakeer' (carved in stone), but the agenda of alliance which they (his father and BJP) chalked out is also very important just like Mufti Sahib's word," Mehbooba said addressing party workers at Kupwara in north Kashmir.
Mehbooba said she respects the decisions taken by her father which she claimed were always in the interest of the people of the state.
"I want to make one thing clear that it (alliance with BJP) is a decision taken by Sayeed and I respect it. When a father makes a will to his children, it's their responsibility to fulfil that will even if they get consumed while doing so," the PDP leader said.
Mehbooba said, however, there was another aspect of that decision that it was aimed at benefiting the people of the state through implementation of the agenda of alliance chalked out between the two parties.
"The decision of Sayeed to form an alliance government with BJP and to shake hands with the government at the Centre was for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, to maintain unity of the state, and for peace and development," she said.
Mehbooba said she would form the government only if she feels that the dreams of her father would be fulfilled.
"I will sit on the chair only if I feel I will fulfil the dreams of Sayeed for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The chair is needed for the people of the state, not for myself. If I will get the chair just for myself and my family, then I don't need it as I don't have such ambitions.
"If I had such an ambition, I would have taken the chair during the lifetime of my father," she said.
Later talking to reporters, Mehbooba said a forward
movement on implementation of agenda of alliance was a pre-requisite for formation of a government in Jammu and Kashmir.
"I anyway don't want to reinforce the stereotype that we Kashmiris are not true to our word. My father was true to his word and I stand by his word. But where he forged an alliance, entered into a relation with the BJP and NDA, there is an agenda of alliance as well.
"We have agreed upon a programme which needs some forward movement. When that forward movement happens, I will also move towards accomplishing the goals set by Mufti Sahib," she said.
The PDP president recalled her father's emphasis on dialogue for resolution of issues, saying it was the only way for ensuring peace in the state and the region.
"We have lost a young 26-year-old (Army captain) from Udhampur, Tushar, and a young boy (militant) from Tral who was known as Newton for securing 98 per cent marks...They (youth) are our future," she said, adding that "our fight is not against National Conference or Congress but against poverty, unemployment and bloodshed.
Mehbooba said she was not making any fresh demands of BJP.
"This vehicle is on two wheels. If one is to form the government, other has the responsibility to fulfil the requirements. I am not making any demand of BJP. This is not an issue concerning BJP or PDP, it is an issue concerning the people of the state and what the Centre is going to do for the people of Jammu and Kashmir," she added.
