PDP President Mehbooba Mufti addresses her first public rally after stepping down as Jammu and Kashmir chief m... Read More

SRINAGAR: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said she "drank the cup of poison" to continue in a coalition government with the BJP out of compulsion, following her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed 's demise in 2016.

Mehbooba claimed that she allied with the BJP as her party legislators and senior leaders told her that it would be a "disrespect" to Sayeed if she went against his decision to form the government with the saffron party.

"Allah is witness that my politics would start and end with my father. That is the reason when he left this world, I was not ready to form the government. It took me three months...I had never thought that I will become the chief minister. I had only thought of fulfilling my father's agenda of how to take out the people of J&K from the present situation."

"At that time, the workers, MLAs and other senior leaders told me that it was the decision taken by Mufti sahib, you will have to drink this poison and carry this fire on your head. If you don't, it will be a disrespect to Mufti Sahib's decision," she said, speaking at the 19th foundation day of her party here.

Mehbooba said even when she gave her consent to government formation with the BJP, she had urged the party leaders to choose another person as the chief minister.

"These people are here. I had told them if you want to form the government, choose another leader as I am not worthy of it."

"It was the statements of assurance from leaders at the Centre, reiterating their commitment to the agenda of alliance, which compelled me to form the government," she added.

The BJP had, on June 19, pulled out of its alliance with the PDP in Jammu and Kashmir , saying it had become impossible to continue in the government in view of the growing radicalism and terrorism in the state.

