Mehbooba says 'only time can tell' about govt formation

Striking a tone different from optimistic ally BJP, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti today said "only time can tell" if the two parties form government as she would move ahead only when convinced that "dreams" of her late father Mufti Sayeed for Jammu and Kashmir can be fulfilled.
Mehbooba, a Lok Sabha member from Anantnag, talked about the "unfortunate" developments of JNU as she prepared to leave for Delhi, a visit she insisted was only to fufill her duties as an MP.
"That only time can tell," was the cryptic response of the PDP president to reporters when they asked her if there was any forward movement in talks with the BJP for government formation in the state.

BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav, after a meeting with Mehbooba here three days back, had said: "Talks were positive. Both parties are positive that the state will benefit by continuing with the arrangement which guided our 8-9 month old government. We can give a stable government with the same arrangement. This view is on both side... I hope, yes, there will be continuation of previous arrangement."
Mehbooba, who attended first public function today since Sayeed's death on January 7, said coming to power was not her goal.
"If we feel, we can fulfill the dreams of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, then only it is worth it. If the situation continues as it is, then my inheritance (the people of the state) is enough for me," she told party workers earlier.

She said her late father, throughout his political career spanning over five decades, had struggled for the betterment of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Only 12 years of his long political career, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was in power. However, he remained alive (in politics) due to the support of the people," Mehbooba said.
"He did not sacrifice his life so that I can get the chair. He sacrificed his life for you," she said.
Madhav had said the leaders of PDP will arrive in Delhi shortly to discuss fixing of timeline on a "few issues" which have found a mention in the alliance's Common Minimum Programme.

However, Mehbooba today said her visit to Delhi was only related to her duties as a Lok Sabha member.
"The Parliament session is starting on Feb 23... I am going to attend it. I have asked questions... If Parliament is allowed to function. There are issues like JNU, which is unfortunate, Haryana (Jat agitation), we don't know what will happen in Parliament," she said.
She decried attempts to pronounce verdict on the students accused of raising anti-national slogans on the JNU campus, saying it should be left for the court to decide.
Apprehending possible harassment of students from Kashmir, she said she has asked her party leaders to take up with the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh any issues concerning the students from the state at the JNU.

Turning to pellet guns which have been the cause of
serious injuries to thousands of protestors over last three months, Mehbooba said her government wants to ban the use of these weapons as a crowd control measure and sought cooperation of police in avoiding their use.
"If there is an injury on you, let it be, but if we save a youth's eyes or arms from pellet guns, then I think it will be your biggest sacrifice. Because this (protests) will not continue forever, it is temporary. But I need your cooperation," the Chief Minister told the security forces.
She said once peace is established in the state, she would ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to begin a dialogue process.

"Establish peace here and the next day I will go to Delhi and request the Prime Minister to talk to everyone and find a solution...To do justice with our people - those people who come out to vote on the edge of sword - for their safety, prosperity and development."
"If this vandalism, stone-pelting continues, then I will be focused on that only," she said, asking the police to help the government to establish peace.
The chief minister said children have to focus on their education and solving issues is the job of the elders.
Mehbooba said there were "instances where we made mistakes and which should not have happened" and cited cases like death of Junaid in Safakadal and a lecturer in Khrew area of Pulwama.

"If a family member has made a mistake, there should be action because we have to save the family," she said.
She asked the police to do hand-holding of the children and engage "in parenting and not just policing".
"Whatever amount of bullets had to be fired, they have been fired. I hope you will try from now on that even if you have to take a wound from a stone, take it, but try to avoid injuries to the children," she said.
Mehbooba also emphasised that Pakistan has a huge role in establishing peace in the region and will have to stop cross- border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir for any dialogue with India to be successful.

She said talks were not possible in the prevailing situation which has "deteriorated".
At the same time, she said she remained hopeful about resumption of talks between India and Pakistan as Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to carry forward Atal Bihari Vajpayee's policy.
"This is not a hidden thing that infiltration takes place and encounters happen on borders. Pakistan has a role to see that infiltration does not take place and there is no support to the militancy," she told reporters on the sidelines of the event.
"When the graph of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir comes down, there would be more opportunities for the two countries to talk. Those talks will then be successful," she added.