Steps needed to give new J&K government a fillip: Mehbooba

Demanding confidence-building measures from the Centre, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said steps need to be taken to give a fillip to a new government in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Today, it is not about the Bharatiya Janata Party and the PDP. It is about what we tell the people about fulfilling Mufti sahib's vision. We need measures to give the new government a fillip. We need confidence-building measures from the Centre," Mehbooba told reporters after meeting Governor N.N. Vohra at Raj Bhavan here.

"I don't have the vision nor do I have the experience right now which Mufti sahib had. The Centre needs to create an environment to infuse confidence, and unless that happens, we cannot move forward," the PDP leader said while referring to her late father and chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed who died on January 7 in a Delhi hospital.

She said the governor had called the PDP leadership for a meeting on Tuesday to know its views on the formation of a new government.

"Mufti sahib had taken a big decision by forming an alliance with the BJP. There were problems during the 10 months he was in power because of inherent contractions between the PDP and the BJP," Mehbooba said.

Earlier, senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh called on Mehbooba at the state circuit house here.

Sources said Singh assured her of continued BJP support to head a coalition government in the state.

PDP sources said she categorically told the BJP leader that unless the "highest leadership in the BJP gives me concrete assurances", she would not stake claim to form the new government in Jammu and Kashmir.

BJP leaders are also scheduled to call on Vohra on Tuesday evening to make clear their stand on government formation.