(This story originally appeared in on Feb 18, 2015)

PDP's Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has been J&K's unofficial CM-in-waiting for two months now. There's no hurry, he tells Sagarika Ghose, as he fields a range of questions on the alliance with BJP and more.Not yet. I can understand that it's a paradigm shift for them. In many ways, BJP's foundations lie in Jammu & Kashmir. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee's arrest, the Jammu versus Kashmir mindset. There is a certain history. There may be some RSS pressure too.For me, it's not a dilemma, it's an opportunity. A PDP-BJP government is a historic opportunity for J&K and for India.To have an inclusive government and regional integration between Jammu and Kashmir — the only Muslim majority state — at a time of ghar wapsi and other issues, is an opportunity to create a government reflecting India's diversity.If it doesn't happen, the country loses a chance and we lose a chance to leave something for history.Several offers had come to me for government formation. From Congress, even from Omar. But I am holding out for regional integration.What about Jammu? They have given a big mandate too. Do they not have a right? We have never wanted Jinnah's two-nation theory in Kashmir. If we get Kashmir then we have to get Jammu. Jammu must have a sense of participation. There is a sense of patriotism in Jammu which I applaud.Article 370 is fundamental. We have a separate constitution. Whatever laws are passed in Parliament are not ipso facto applicable in Kashmir. I take oath on Constitution of India and on the constitution of Kashmir. We have a national flag and a state flag. Abrogation of Article 370 would not be legal because it is the legal basis of Kashmir's accession to India. If you remove 370, you remove accession and India doesn't have a de jure connection with Kashmir. Ram Jethmalani pointed this out to me.We are not in a hurry. I didn't get a mandate like Kejriwal. I got a fractured mandate. BJP did well in Jammu. Let the negotiations carry on because we must have a mutually agreed common minimum programme. People have five concerns. One, reconciliation with Pakistan. They say how can you talk to the Centre on foreign affairs? I say we can because it affects us internally. Two, some engagement with Hurriyat, after all Advani held two rounds of talks with them. Three, Article 370, which I spoke about.Four, Armed Forces Special Powers Act. Why this 'badnaami' of the Army? There are some outstanding Army personnel, some of the best officers have served in Kashmir, but we don't need so many troops when we are pre paring for the democratization of society. They said if you have a bus service with Pakistan, mili tants will come. They didn't. They said when you have mobile phones, militants will use them. On the contrary, mobile phones have been a boon for the youth. The needle of suspicion must not al ways point at Kashmir. Five, the Indus waters treaty. We need our share of water for hydel plants at Dul Hasti, Sallal.When Vajpayee was to come to Kashmir, I was asked, is it safe for him to hold a public meeting. I said of course it is. I will provide the atmosphere. And how Vajpayee spoke! A new time, a new opportunity, we will find a solution within the borders of 'insaniyat'. Kashmir opened its arms to Vajpayee.I don't know Narendra Modi the way I knew Vajpayee. Modi worked hard in Kashmir for Mission 44+. He did not get the seats and he accepted the verdict. It was a totally free and fair election. In an Army encounter, two youths were killed and Modi made the Army admit to it and provide compensation. I respect the enormous mandate that Modi has got from the people of India, it gives him a moral authority. You have to recognize his mandate. Reconciliation with Pakistan is a gigantic step for India and an inclusive government in J&K is equally historic. And PMs with such big mandates can create reconciliation.Indian Muslims may have an issue, but they know Mufti has fought for Kashmir, has fought for Kashmir's identity. Judge me by my deeds. I have been home minister of India. Now the Muslims too seek an inclusive government, they also want security. Did riots not happen in Meerut, Maliana under Congress rule?Omar Abdullah has said if PDP ties up with BJP it will be committing political suicide.I can't react to that. Omar is a young man.If it's suicide for me, I will take the consequences and Omar and NC will return to power. 'Yeh to vikalp hai'. Kashmir is a part of the body of India, it's a part that is injured. And I want to help fix that part.That's why I'm here.It's too early to say anything on that.To change the atmosphere. To win over hearts and minds. In my hometown of Bijbehara, there is a Mughal garden created by Dara Shikoh (the Mughal prince who translated the Upanishads). I would like to make that garden a tourist spot as I am inspired by Dara Shikoh's belief in coexistence.