Senior PDP leaders meet disgruntled ministers

Three senior Peoples Democratic Party leaders on Saturday called on two ruling party ministers to persuade them withdraw their resignations.

PDP Vice President Sartaj Madni accompanied by two other senior party leaders Abdul Haq Khan and Rafi Mir called on Basharat Bukhari, who resigned from the cabinet on Friday.

The meeting took place in Srinagar because Bukhari had flown here after portfolio reshuffle was announced in Jammu.

Speaking to some reporters after the meeting with the disgruntled minister, Sartaj Madni said the resignation of the minister had not been accepted so far and he was sure the issue would be amicably resolved.

Madni had a similar meeting with the other minister Imran Ansari who also resigned after Bukhari.

The meeting between Madni and Ansari took place in Jammu.

Madni also said there was no threat to the PDP-BJP coalition government because of the development.

Senior PDP leader and state Public Works Minister Naeem Akhtar said the party was like a family and the issue would be resolved within the family to the satisfaction of all concerned.

When asked to comment on the development, BJP state president Sat Sharma said: "This is an internal matter of our alliance partner and I am sure it would be amicably settled".

In Friday's portfolio reshuffle, Basharat Bukhari was divested of Relief, Rehab and Revenue department portfolio and assigned the charge of Horticulture.

Imran Ansari who held Information Technology, Youth Services and Sports before the reshuffle continued to retain the departments under his charge although his supporters said they expected a better deal during the reshuffle.

--IANS

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