Hindu Mahasabha flays PDP, BJP ties

Dubbing PDP as 'pro-separatist', the All-India Hindu Mahasabha on Wednesday asked Jammu and Kashmir’s chief minister-designate Mehbooba Mufti if she would chant ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and said BJP’s alliance with her party is not in national interest.

“BJP's alliance with PDP in Jammu and Kashmir for government formation is not in national interest. PDP, especially its chief ministerial contender Mehbooba Mufti, has been a well-wisher of separatists. “BJP, which claims to be a nationalist party, should thus not ally with PDP to form a government. Would Mehbooba Mufti chant ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’? If not, how can she be a nationalist. Thus, a coalition with PDP will give rise to separatism in the state,” the All India Hindu Mahasabha said.

In a joint statement, Sabha president Chander Prakash Kaushik, general secretary Munna Kumar Sharma and organising secretary Viresh Tyagi asked the BJP not to ally with PDP and urged the Centre to impose President's Rule in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Hindu Mahasabha urges BJP not to ally with PDP in Jammu and Kashmir to form a government. We urge the central government to impose President’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir and grant more powers to the Indian Army to quell separatist forces in the state,” they said. They also said Mehbooba had opposed the execution of Afzal Guru and PDP does not consider him anti-national.