BJP distances from Mehbooba’s assertions on ceasefire demand

Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday distanced itself from Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s assertions on unilateral ceasefire during Ramzan and Amarnath yatra in J&K, saying “this suggestion was not put to vote during the all-party meet held on Wednesday.”

“There was no broader discussion on the (ceasefire) issue. We don’t want any unilateral ceasefire at this juncture. It is not going to happen. It was just a suggestion but it was not a point of discussion. This issue was raised first by Engineer Rashid (independent MLA) and then by others,” said BJP spokesmen Arun Gupta and Sunil Sethi in a press conference organised in Jammu.

The BJP leaders said the government was on a strong wicket. “The war has entered the last phase, anyone who joins the militancy is killed in three days. The unilateral ceasefire is not a good thing,” they said.

On amnesty to stone-throwers, the BJP said, “Today’s stone-throwers could be tomorrow’s militants.” However, they were quick to add, “There was no confrontation between the PDP and the BJP over the issue.”

Ms. Mufti on Wednesday asked the Centre to offer ceasefire after an all-party meet in Srinagar and described it as “unanimous demand from the parties in the State.”

The PDP stood by Ms. Mufti’s stand on ceasefire. “The near unanimity reached in the meeting about ending the cycle of violence in the State naturally calls for taking substantive measures,” said PDP spokesman Rafi Ahmad Mir.