The Avengers crossover meme wasn’t there in 2015, or else PDP-BJP alliance would easily fit into it. Two political parties with ideologies as different as chalk and cheese came together, after a fractured mandate reflected the greatly fragmented polity of Jammu and Kashmir. It was dubbed as the unity of North and South Pole by former CM Mufti Saeed. While many believed it was the perfect healing touch needed by bringing the majority Muslims and minority Hindus in the state together, others assumed it would be a disaster due to disoriented policies. Honestly, it was neither of the two, the alliance worked in phases when terrorists were clinically tracked down and eliminated, big-ticket development projects rolled in with PM Modi himself making multiple visit to the Valley. However, it stuttered at fundamental levels, when it was about winning the trust of disgruntled youth to wean them away from militancy, in bringing people of Jammu and Kashmir closer. As the reactions to Kathua rape-and-murder case showed, the chalice of hate was probably too much for any sanity to exist any way. But honestly, all of these are sideshow, and nothing really explains why BJP pulled the plug on an alliance which it formed after months of hectic parleys. It was a tad ironic to see Ram Madhav announcing the decision - like a priest announcing the annulment of a marriage which he had ordained in the first place. So, what made BJP pull the trigger, to sacrifice a state, weeks after narrowly losing out on winning Karnataka, despite emerging as the single largest party? Nothing, but cold calculations have determined the move which clearly has the stamp of Amit Shah and Narendra Modi. With the opposition closing ranks, the BJP needs to fire up its base, ensure that the dedicated voters turn up, if the party hopes to do an encore of 2014. The base for a long time – not just restricted to Jammu – was unhappy with BJP’s alliance with PDP. It gave no leverage point to BJP except just ticking a box in their state count and bragging rights of forming its first-ever government in J&K albeit as a junior ally. But the price was a tad too much, particularly in an election year. The party had to put shelving Article 370 on the backburner, it had to agree to amnesty for first-time stone pelters, had to significantly dial down anti-terror operations in Valley by freezing cordon-and-search operations on Mehbooba Mufti’s behest. It ran the risk of being branded as weak on terror, not faithful to its core issues in front of its supporters. PDP insisting on extending the Ramzan ceasefire was the proverbial last straw as the Bukhari assassination had put the government in a spot of bother. Headline management doesn’t get easy when a decorated journalist gets killed in public glare. By making a clean break from PDP, BJP can now crank-up the rhetoric on Pakistan, Kashmir, about Kashmiri Pandits’ long exile from their homes and in general play its nationalistic card to the hilt. Essentially, it is a get-out-of-jail card, at a time when the party senses vulnerability on multiple fronts across the nation, resetting the Kashmir agenda is likely to help BJP etch out a new narrative of willing to sacrifice political power in a state for sake of India. Tough on terror with unflinching dedication works perfectly as political messaging. On the flipside, the party runs the risk of spooking current allies and scaring away potential ones with this high-handed move. It has just given legitimacy to the accusation of hubris which has been levelled against them by the likes of Chandrababu Naidu and Uddhav Thackeray. It might just give a certain Mr Nitish Kumar some fresh fodder chew upon, pun intended. In the high-stakes game of politics, BJP has played a risky gamble. But has it erred by showing its hands too early, or this was perfectly timed with united opposition gradually gaining momentum? Political chameleons will continue their dealings, but for the ordinary Kashmiris there is unlikely to be any pot of gold at the end of the rainbow despite PM Modi's calls for Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat and Jamhooriat.<doc-sep>Mehbooba Mufti, who resigned today as Jammu and Kashmir's chief minister after losing the BJP's support, said her state isn't "enemy" territory, and that a "muscular policy" won't work there. Mehbooba said that her party managed to protect Article 370 in the state. "PDP workers had to face a lot, but they stood by us and supported us. We did all what we could by withdrawing cases and vouching for ceasefire, our efforts would continue in future too," she added. This afternoon, the BJP announced it was leaving the coalition with Mufti's Peoples Democratic Party.<doc-sep>Jammu and Kashmir's ruling coalition collapsed on Tuesday as the BJP yanked support from Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's PDP (File photo) Mehbooba Mufti submitted her resignation to Governor NN Vohra soon after the coalition collapsed (File) The Amarnath Yatra will commence on June 28 The Mehbooba Mufti government had approved withdrawal of cases registered against 9,730 people involved in stone-pelting incidents The end of the BJP-PDP alliance did not come as a surprise, but its timing and swiftness were unimagined. It was widely welcomed at the national level, and helped the BJP retrieve much of its lost ground with its traditional vote base upset with the unilateral ceasefire and brazen pandering to the separatists by the PDP.Though Governor's rule has been imposed and the army given a free hand, it is too early to say if the killings will stop and the Valley will become fully peaceful. Till the declaration of the unilateral ceasefire in the Ramzan month, the BJP had totally gone along with the wishes of its coalition partner, the PDP. The Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was given a long rope both by the centre and the state BJP. Though there were allegations of disparity in the allocation of funds for development, and the Valley was pampered at the cost of two other regions, Jammu and Ladakh, the BJP grudgingly kept quiet. The BJP ministers were given left-handed treatment with most crucial decisions taken unilaterally by the Chief Minister. There were 66 ceasefire violations by separatists and terrorists during the Ramzan month. The ceasefire was criticized by security experts and nationalists alike as it gave time for the terrorists to regroup. Cornered by the army, the separatists needed a respite which was provided by the ceasefire.The coalition of the BJP and the PDP was rightly described by the late Mufti Mohammad Syed as the coming together of the "North and South Pole'. Ideologically, the two parties are poles apart. The PDP strength is confined to the Valley while the BJP's base is in Jammu and Ladakh. Many eyebrows were raised when the two parties after months of negotiations worked out a Common Minimum Programme for the development of the state. Power-sharing was initially smooth with the BJP satisfied with playing second fiddle, though hardliners in both parties resented each other and some were openly critical of the other. The fact that all this was overcome was the statesmanship and sagacity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at work.Modi was eager to give peace a chance. He was extremely indulgent of the PDP's recalcitrant demands, honouring its sentiments including in the matter of investigating the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani, offering general amnesty to stone-pelters, withdrawal of armed forces from several parts of the Valley, the inquiry into the Kathua rape case, and action against army personnel accused of excesses. All this disheartened the nationalists in the country. Yet, the BJP was willing to make big compromises to make the coalition work. It hoped to send out a message of goodwill to the people in the Valley.But Mehbooba, known for proximity to separatists, never concealed her proclivities towards agent provocateurs. The centre in the last four years sanctioned Rs 80,000 crore for development of the state.When on June 18, BJP Chief Amit Shah called a meeting of senior functionaries from Jammu and Kashmir for a frank exchange of views at the BJP national headquarters, nobody expected the end of the uneasy alliance to come so soon. The mood there was one of despondency. Some drastic steps had to be taken to keep up the party's sagging morale and falling image. Almost everyone was critical of the coalition experience. Since the coalition was neither helping a greater integration of the state with rest of India, nor helping building confidence in the people to join the mainstream, it was felt that its continuation was affecting the BJP core constituency adversely. The attacks on security forces had increased, the killings of army men had gone up, and unprovoked firing from across the border was also on the rise. It was in this background that the BJP decided to strike and pull the rug from under Mehbooba's feet. She was seen as hobnobbing and sympathizing with separatists, focusing more on political and diplomatic issues instead of working for peace and development in the state. The two coalition partners seemed to work at cross-purposes.While withdrawing support, the BJP was keen to take the initiative and surprise the PDP. The security of the pilgrims for the Amarnath Yatra which starts soon was one concern. Mehbooba looked disinterested in the subject. The disruption of normal life, closing down of educational institutions in the Valley had become routine. BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav announcing the pullout, cited the increase in terror activities and national interest as the reasons for the BJP action.Will it lead to a more muscular approach in the Valley? Will it help the BJP consolidate its nationalist base? Is it part of the strategy to win the 2019 general election? The answer to all these questions is yes. The BJP has to be different in its approach to separatism and terror in the Valley. The appeasement policy followed by previous regimes in Kashmir in the past had not paid off. The BJP's own experience in the last four years has proved that the policy of endearing the separatists who are hardened jihadis, motivated by Pakistan and bent on Islamizing Kashmir, is futile. Unless their source of sustenance and support is broken and they are made to realize the determination of the Indian state to preserve territorial integrity and secularism in Kashmir, no amount of molly-coddling will ensure a positive response. They are paid to act against India.Thus the priority in Kashmir is to break the back of the terror networks. Their funding sources need to be disrupted. The second priority is to create an atmosphere of security for normal life to be sustained. The majority of people are fed up with the separatists who have only delivered misery for them.<doc-sep>The BJP has ended its shaky alliance with Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP, announced Ram Madhav, BJP General Secretary announced. BJP president Amit Shah had called for an urgent meeting of Jammu and Kashmir BJP ministers and some top leaders in the national capital. Here is a timeline of events of the alliance December 2014: BJP maakes significant inroads in the Jammu region; bags 25 of the 37 seats in the province; second largest party in the state Feb 24, 2015: After seven weeks of negotiations, BJP and PDP form an alliance; Mehbooba says, "government is not for power sharing but to win hearts." March 2015: First signs of strains show in the government over the release of hardline separatist leader Masarat Alam, with the saffron party slamming the "unilateral" decision and warning that such things would not be tolerated. January 2016: Mufti Mohammad Sayeed dies; Mehbooba made PDP chief February 2016: PDP terms the decision of aligning with the BJP as 'unpopular'; demand special status for J&K Also read BJP ends alliance with PDP in Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti resigns March 24, 2016: PDP elects Mehbooba Mufti as leader of legislative party, she declared CM candidate September 2016: PDP MP Tariq Karra resigns; says life in Kashmir 'worse than Nazi rule' May 2017: BJP-PDP clash over Major Gogoi tying Kashmiri man to Army jeep. While BJP hails move, PDP says it's a violation of human rights June, 2017: Amarnath yatra terror attacks leaves eight dead; Opposition leaders allege that terror attacks have increased in PDP-BJP rule April 2018: Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga, two BJP legislators, resign from the Assembly after participating in a rally supporting the accused in the Kathua rape and murder June 2018: 'Rising Kashmir' editor Shujaat Bukhari shot dead June 19, 2018: BJP withdraws support from PDP government; Ram Madhav said: “After discussing with everyone, we’ve decided to call of the alliance. For the last three years, BJP has tried its best to work with the PDP to ensure that there was security and development in Jammu and Kashmir.”<doc-sep>
New Delhi: The BJP decided to pull out of the PDP-led coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. The decision comes within days of the Centre deciding not to extend the Ramzan ceasefire in the Valley. "It has become untenable for the BJP to continue the alliance with PDP. Keeping in mind that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and in order to control the prevailing situation in the state, we have decided that the reins of power in the state be handed over to the governor," BJP's Jammu and Kashmir in-charge Ram Madhav said. Ram Madhav further said that the "situation in the Kashmir Valley is not right today, there is terrorism and the freedom of press is in danger after the killing of Shujaat Bukhari ji." "Terrorism, violence and radicalisation have risen and fundamental rights of the citizens are under danger in the Kashmir valley. Despite support from the Central govt, PDP failed to control the situation," he added. The PDP has called an emergency meeting to discuss the issue at 4pm on Tuesday. Mehbooba Mufti is expected to chair the meeting. Senior PDP minister Naeem Akhtar said CM Mehbooba Mufti will submit her resignation to the Governor shortly. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took to Twitter to react to the BJP's decision to withdraw from the alliance with PDP "And so it has come to pass......." And so it has come to pass........— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 19, 2018 BJP leaders and ministers met the top party leadership earlier in the day amid reports of straining of ties. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval also met Shah on Monday. This is not the first time that differences have cropped up between the alliance partners. Earlier, the PDP reportedly threatened to pull out of the coalition over the issue of two BJP ministers rallying behind the Hindu Ekta Manch, which was demanding a CBI inquiry into the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua district. The BJP had asked both the ministers to resign from cabinet. On Tuesday, the BJP had called its cabinet ministers in Jammu and Kashmir to New Delhi for consultation with the party leadership. State BJP president Ravinder Raina and other ministers met party leaders, including national president Amit Shah and general secretary Ram Madhav, on Tuesday and Wednesday. While Mehbooba Mufti wanted the ceasefire to be extended, the Centre decided against it in view of the situation in the Valley. The Centre had called off the Ramzan ceasefire a day after Eid, citing provocative action from militants after cessation of operations by security forces. The brutal murder of veteran journalist Shujaat Bukhari and abduction and killing of army jawan Aurangzeb are said to have prompted the decision. In a series of tweets, Union home minister Rajnath Singh announced that security forces had been directed to resume operations. “It was expected that everyone will cooperate in ensuring the success of this initiative. While the Security Forces have displayed exemplary restraint during this period, the terrorists have continued with their attacks, on civilians and SFs, resulting in deaths and injuries,” he said. The calling off of the ceasefire has restricted space for PDP to manoeuvre a narrative for its coalition with the BJP.