New Delhi, Feb 27 (IANS) PDP patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his swearing-in Sunday as Jammu and Kashmir chief minister heading a government which, for the first time in the state's history, will include the BJP. Modi is slated to attend the "historic" ceremony.
Sayeed's meeting with Modi came about following successful conclusion of nearly two months of negotiations between their parties, which finished as the top two in the state assembly polls held November-December last year.
The two parties have had varied viewpoint on some crucial issues concerning the border state including article 370 of the constitution and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFPSA).
"I met the prime minister today (Friday), and this is an opportunity for both of us to work together," Sayeed told journalists after the meeting held at the prime minister's official residence.
The Peoples Democratic Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party are expected to declare their common minimum programme for governance Sunday.
BJP leaders said here that half of expected 24 ministers in the new cabinet, including a deputy chief minister, will be from the party.
The assembly election to the 87-member assembly threw a fractured verdict with PDP emerging as the single largest party with 28 seats followed by 25 of the BJP.
Sayeed, 79, a former chief minister, told the media that PDP was the choice of people in Kashmir and BJP in Jammu and the two parties decided that they should give a government which brings all-round development to all regions of the state.
To a query, he said it was too early to say if PDP will join the National Democratic Alliance government.
Sayeed said he and Modi discussed various issues regarding the state but refused to divulge the portfolios the two parties were likely to keep.
"All of them will be made public on the day of the swearing in ceremony. There have been issues in Jammu and Kashmir and we have to build up a good government in the state," he said.
Sayeed said the prime minister underlined the need to bring peace in the troubled state. "He has a dream of making it an island of peace," he said, adding he had told Modi that it was important to make Pakistan a part of the peace building process in Jammu and Kashmir.
Jitendra Singh, the minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office, said it was beauty of democracy that two parties with differences of views on some issues had joined hands to provide a stable government.
"There was no better alternative to respect the mandate of the people. That the two parties have agreed to disagree on certain issues is also a big thing," Jitendra Singh, who is am MP from the state, told IANS.
He said that Modi accepted the invitation to attend the swearing-in ceremony.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu told IANS that BJP joining the government in Jammu and Kashmir was a "historic occasion."
Meat Ban Row: 'What is the connection between eating meat and celebrating Independence Day?' Questions raised on meat ban order; Who said what?
A major political controversy has erupted after several municipal bodies in the country ordered meat shops and slaughterhouses to remain closed on this Independence Day. Many politicians, breaking
Health workers on strike, dying without treatment: UK hospitals worse than Ukraine, 500 deaths per week
Britain's healthcare system has come to a complete standstill. Patients are dying on hospital floors, in corridors, in stuck ambulances, and elsewhere as health workers strike and services stop.
Corona Pandemic: Worldwide the death toll has crossed 50 lakhs, so far close to 250 million case records
The death toll from the corona epidemic is increasing rapidly all over the world. According to the news agency AP, so far the death toll from corona infection in the world has crossed 50 lakh
Morbi Bridge Collapse: Congress said- Prime Minister should seek answers from the Gujarat government for 'loose investigation process'
The Congress on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek a response from the Gujarat government for the "loose investigation process" into the Morbi bridge collapse incident.
A bomb threat on an Air India plane created panic, a flight going from Mumbai to New York was diverted to Delhi
Air India Flight Bomb Threat There was a stir after a bomb threat was made to an Air India plane going from Mumbai to New York. The plane was then diverted to Delhi airport. Officials said that all
Delhi Liquor Scam: KCR's daughter expressed her inability to appear before CBI, said- My schedule is already fixed
Telangana CM K.K. Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter Kavita Chandrasekhar has been summoned by the CBI on Tuesday. Responding to this, Kavita has written a letter to the Central Bureau of Investigation
Pakistan Crisis: Is Pakistan going to be in the same condition as Sri Lanka? Inflation at a decade high
Like Sri Lanka, our neighboring country Pakistan is also going through a period of serious economic crisis. According to media reports, the inflation rate in Pakistan is at the highest level in the
You wouldn't know this about North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un
New Delhi: North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is very popular these days. Rumors related to his alleged death are due to which no official statement has come from North Korea so far. Like Kim Jong-un's
SRH vs GT: Shubman praised Siraj, and called bowlers game changers; Cummins raised questions on Hyderabad pitch
Gujarat Titans defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets in the 19th match of IPL 2025. After Mohammad Siraj's lethal bowling, Gujarat's team managed to win with the brilliant innings of captain
Wanted my statement to be India's statement: Femina Miss India World
Mumbai, March 30 (IANS) Aditi Arya, who is the proud possessor of this year's Femina Miss India World crown, says she always wanted to represent India on an international level and that inspired
