Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has emerged as the second largest party according to the election result trends in Jammu and Kashmir, Sunday said it would support “self rule” in the state.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, after winning the Wachi constituency seat in south Kashmir, said her party would ally with parties having an agenda in consonance with its "common minimum programme".

“Our party has always had on its agenda the common minimum programme and for us to form an alliance we will look for the same in other parties. Other parties may have other priorities,” Mehbooba told reporters here.

“The situation calls for good governance and we stand for self rule,” she said.

Justifying her stand on the Amarnath land row, Mufti said that the PDP “respects the aspirations of the people.

“We are people's party. We respect the aspirations of the people. When three people died in the land row we stood up.

“During our term when we shared power with the Congress we brought about a total change. We took care of common problems. The people's likes and dislikes were focussed upon,” Mehbooba added.

Mufti also accused the National Conference of being a puppet in the hands of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“The National Conference was a puppet to the BJP. Jammu and Kashmir needs its own party. We won't sacrifice people's expectations in an alliance…. Maybe the National Conference can talk of an alliance and do it for power but we will focus on a common minimum programme,” she said.

She also called for greater coordination in the central government's policy towards Jammu and Kashmir. “In Jammu and Kashmir the question is who will take the lead and take care. We need some one who can coordinate and pursue the policy of the Central government,” she said.

 

Source : IANS