 "Kashmir: A new beginning?")
After over month-long logjam, PDP-BJP coalition appears to be back on track in Jammu and Kashmir with the saffron party today saying both sides are "positive" and indicated its willingness to accept Mehbooba Mufti's demand for time-bound implementation of certain elements of the common agenda.
BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav, who flew to Srinagar yesterday for a brief visit and held talks with PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, hoped that the alliance formed in March last year would continue on the basis of "previous arrangement".
"Talks were positive.... I hope there will be continuation of previous arrangement," he told reporters here.
He said the coalition will work on the basis of 'Agenda of Alliance' firmed up between the two parties last year and insisted that "there will be no dilution" or "any new addition" in it.
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At the same time, he said BJP is willing to discuss bringing into a "timeline" a "few issues" which have found a mention in the alliance's Common Minimum Programme, implying readiness to accept Mehbooba's demand in this regard.
The leaders of PDP will arrive here shortly to discuss these issues with BJP leaders as well as ministers since some of them concern the government, Madhav said.
Though he refused to be drawn into the issues concerned, PDP is understood to be pressing for revocation of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and holding talks with separatists among others with a specific timeline.
Madhav denied a media report which said that BJP has agreed to revoke AFSPA from some areas of Kashmir on trial basis, claiming that there has been no discussion on it with Mehbooba.
