To save Kashmir, quit 'unholy' alliance with BJP: Congress to Mehbooba Mufti

With violence and unrest continuing in Jammu and Kashmir, Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday asked Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to quit the PDP-BJP coalition, saying that the "unholy" alliance was the gravest provocation to the people of the Valley.

“Mehbooba Mufti should break her party's unholy and opportunistic coalition with the BJP. And go back to the philosophy of her father,” Chidambaram said in a series of tweets.

The former finance minister claimed the "muscular and militaristic" approach of the central government has driven the state towards the present "catastrophic" situation.

"The PDP-BJP coalition is the gravest provocation to the people of the Kashmir valley. Mehboobaji, quit the coalition immediately and go back to the people," he said.

Chidambaram's reaction came two days after five civilians died in clashes with security forces following the Shopian encounter that killed five militants, including the missing J&K University professor.

Accept Your failure: Omar Abdullah demands Mufti's resignation

Meanwhile, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has asked Mufti to accept her failure to govern the state and step down.

Abdullah said that Mufti failed to handle the deteriorating situation in the Valley, therefore, she should step down as Chief Minister of the state.

During a public meeting in Kargil, the National Conference leader said that youths were being pushed against the wall as the ruling PDP-BJP alliance has robbed them of hope while being solely obsessed with the goal of remaining glued to power.

"As civilian killings, instability and violence seem to have become the norm in the state, the time has come for Mehbooba Mufti to accept her failure and the grave costs of PDP's sell-out. She should step down as the chief minister before the situation deteriorates any further," he said.

The former J&K CM accused the BJP-PDP government of being a mute spectator while the state was sliding back into the "armed turmoil and instability".

"It is not enough that the chief minister regrets unabated civilian killings in the Valley while she continues to augment the sense of hostility and alienation among the youth. She cannot offer a solution as long as she continues to be the basis of what is happening in the state today,” he said.

(With inputs from agencies)