Differences over Article 370, AFSPA 'ironed out': Mufti Mohammad Sayeed

Jammu: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who is likely to be the next Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, today said differences with BJP over contentious issues like Article 370 and AFSPA have been ironed out in the Common Mininum Programme.

The 78-year-old former CM said it would be a historic opportunity for the PDP-BJP alliance to remove the decades of mistrust between the two regions of the state.

He also said that with the mandate BJP has at the Centre, the ruling coalition in the state would be able to achieve much more on both peace and development fronts.

"I see this (PDP-BJP coalition) as an historic opportunity to end the decades of mistrust between Kashmir and Jammu regions of the state, Sayeed told PTI here.

Sayeed, whose PDP is is all set to form the government with BJP, said the mandate thrown up by the state assembly elections late last year had made it inevitable for the two parties to come together to deliver on peace and development agenda.

PDP won 28 seats and BJP 25 in the 87-member Assembly.

Together, they are comfortably placed well above the majority figure of 44 to form the government.

"There is no other option (other than PDP and the BJP alliance). We had offers of support from the National Conference as well as the Congress for government formation but governance is not our only aim. We have to also deliver on the peace agenda,' the former Chief Minister said.

"With the mandate BJP has at the Centre, we will be able to achieve much more on both peace and development fronts. Any other alternative may not be feasible at all for the state," he said.

The veteran politician said the PDP-BJP alliance in the state would be a win-win situation for both the parties but more importantly it will be beneficial to the state.

Asked about sharp differences between the PDP and BJP over issues like Article 370 and AFSPA, Sayeed said all the issues have been addressed and shall be reflected in the Common Minimum Programme.

"Please wait for some more time. The differences have been ironed out and everything will be clear in the CMP," the PDP patron said.

Sayeed is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi tomorrow.