PDP pulls out of UPA after Cong-NC alliance in J and K

Srinagar/New Delhi, Jan 4 (PTI) The People's Democratic Party (PDP) Sunday pulled out of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) at the Centre severing their six-year-old ties after the Congress and the National Conference joined hands to form a coalition government in the border Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

"PDP has formally dissociated itself from the UPA
alliance at the Centre," party President Mehbooba Mufti said
in a letter to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on the eve of the
new coalition government assuming office.

PDP has a lone member in the Lok Sabha with Mufti herself
representing the party.

"In view of your new arrangement with the National
Conference, both in the state and in the UPA, you would
appreciate our difficulty in continuing to be a part of the
UPA.

"My party has decided to stay away from the arrangement
as it has become now untenable for PDP to continue in this
alliance," Mehbooba said in the letter, a copy of which was
released to the press in Srinagar.

Mehbooba did not question the right of Congress to
choose its allies but said, "As you have exercised your
unquestionable right to choose a partner for government
formation in J&K, we wish the new government well. I sincerely
hope the new government in the state is able to respond to the
highly complex situation with success."

In its reaction, the Congress described PDP's decision to
as "unfortunate and claimed it will only benefit divisive
forces. "This will only benefit the NDA and its divisive
political agenda. This is unfortunate," party spokesman
Shakeel Ahmed told PTI in New Delhi.

Recalling the PDP-Congress coalition, Mehbooba said six
years back her party had started a journey together against
the backdrop of blood, mayhem, repression and despondency in
the border state.

"Today, there is enough indication on ground to feel
satisfied that the alliance turned out to be an enterprise of
hope for the people of Jammu and Kashmir that you and Mufti
Mohammad Sayeed, former chief minister, had intended it to
be," she said.

Mehmooba also referred to the fall of the PDP-Congress
coalition in the state in the wake of Amarnath land row and
described it as "unfortunate",

She said even after the fall of the coalition government,
"we continued to be with UPA and extended our full support to
your government at the Centre in whatever circumstances."

While conveying her party decision, Mehbooba expressed
her gratitude to Gandhi for the "personal affection" that she
always showered on her. She also lauded Gandhi for "the
consideration that you and your government showed to our point
of view and the historic contribution you made to Kashmir's
fortunes in 2002".

Mehbooba said Gandhi's statesmanship contributed in a
substantial measure to the turnaround in the situation. And
for the first time in J&K's history, the PDP-Congress
coalition worked as a remarkable facilitator of reconciliation
between political aspirations of the state, its developmental
needs and the national interest, she said.

The PDP chief said the measures of significance initiated
by the PDP-Congress coalition government led to an entirely
new realisation of peace as the only way forward in South
Asia. PTI AMS
DEP