J&K government: PDP, BJP ironing out differences on 'one or two' issues

Jammu: PDP and BJP, which are in talks over government formation in Jammu and Kashmir for the past three weeks, on Wednesday said a consensus has been arrived on most of the issues and talks are on to iron out differences on "one or two issues", apparently referring to AFSPA and Article 370. However, they refused to comment on the time by which they will announce an alliance to form the coalition government.

PDP on Wednesday said that talks are on to achieve a "consensus" on "left out one or two issues" confronting the coalition in the formation of the government. PDP spokesperson Naeem Akhtar told reporters, "We (PDP) have more issues of convergence and a few issues, one or two are there, on which consensus has not emerged as yet. Attempts are being made by both the sides to reach consensus on them."

He said, "Both the parties are trying to resolve the areas of divergence and difference as we feel that the government which is formed should be purposeful government". Akhtar said, "As soon as we feel that we have overcome major differences, we will take a decision."

He said that there are still "certain issues" which needed to be sorted out. "But they will get sorted as the parties get into a structured dialogue," he added. BJP also said here that talks are going on and once there is a consensus on "some" issues, the process for the formation of government in J-K will start.

BJP JK unit chief and Jammu MP, Jugal Kishore Sharma, told reporters here, "There are several issues on which talks are going on. Once the consensus is achieved (on some issues), the process of the government formation will begin." When asked about the time frame, Sharma said, "how can we say that when the talks will end".