At a time when suspense over the formation of the J&K Government continues, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday visited the residence of Mehbooba Mufti here to offer her condolences on the death of her father and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
While the Congress has described Sonia’s visit as “personal”, the visit is being interpreted as a “big gesture” by the Congress and a “possible warming up” by the grand old party to its former ally Peoples Democratic Party.
In fact just before Sonia’s arrival, a green carpet was rolled outside the main door by security officials, but it was later rolled back after someone pointed out that it might not go well with the solemn occasion as hordes of people on the other side of the residence had arrived to offer their condolences. Many PDP legislators, some former ministers of the party and PDP Member of Parliament from Srinagar Tariq Karra were seen waiting for Sonia’s arrival.
In contrast, such enthusiasm was missing when senior BJP leader and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, arrived at the Fairview residence of Mufti Sayeed almost an hour later along with senior state party leaders.
Sonia, wearing a traditional “pheran”, arrived at Mufti’s residence at 3 pm and she met Mehbooba for at least 20 minutes. Sonia was accompanied by Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, senior Congress leader Ambika Soni, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir and former JKPCC president Saifuddin Soz.
“Soniaji condoled the death of Mufti saheb,” Mir told The Tribune after the meeting. “No politics or government formation was discussed during the meeting.”
The suspense over the formation of the government and the swearing-in of Mehbooba as Chief Minister continues even after four days after the death of Mufti.
The Congress president described the late Mufti as a man who was beyond party affiliations and whose values were rooted in a respect for diversity. “He (Mufti) symbolised the very best of human values, caring, calm and compassionate under the greatest of pressures, reaching out to and engaging with everybody, bringing people together. Free of prejudice, he reflected the very best of Indian values rooted in a respect for diversity and anchored in tolerance and accommodation,” Sonia said in a written condolence to Mehbooba.
The Congress president described Mufti as a fine administrator, committed to the welfare of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. “As Chief Minister in 2002, he pledged himself to providing what he used to call “the healing touch”. He faced many challenges. But such was the force of his personality and such was the confidence that he evoked across different sections of society that he was able to confront them successfully and fulfil the promises he had made,” Sonia said.
While the Congress has described Sonia’s visit as “personal”, the visit is being interpreted as a “big gesture” by the Congress and a “possible warming up” by the grand old party to its former ally Peoples Democratic Party.
In fact just before Sonia’s arrival, a green carpet was rolled outside the main door by security officials, but it was later rolled back after someone pointed out that it might not go well with the solemn occasion as hordes of people on the other side of the residence had arrived to offer their condolences. Many PDP legislators, some former ministers of the party and PDP Member of Parliament from Srinagar Tariq Karra were seen waiting for Sonia’s arrival.
In contrast, such enthusiasm was missing when senior BJP leader and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, arrived at the Fairview residence of Mufti Sayeed almost an hour later along with senior state party leaders.
Sonia, wearing a traditional “pheran”, arrived at Mufti’s residence at 3 pm and she met Mehbooba for at least 20 minutes. Sonia was accompanied by Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, senior Congress leader Ambika Soni, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir and former JKPCC president Saifuddin Soz.
“Soniaji condoled the death of Mufti saheb,” Mir told The Tribune after the meeting. “No politics or government formation was discussed during the meeting.”
The suspense over the formation of the government and the swearing-in of Mehbooba as Chief Minister continues even after four days after the death of Mufti.
The Congress president described the late Mufti as a man who was beyond party affiliations and whose values were rooted in a respect for diversity. “He (Mufti) symbolised the very best of human values, caring, calm and compassionate under the greatest of pressures, reaching out to and engaging with everybody, bringing people together. Free of prejudice, he reflected the very best of Indian values rooted in a respect for diversity and anchored in tolerance and accommodation,” Sonia said in a written condolence to Mehbooba.
The Congress president described Mufti as a fine administrator, committed to the welfare of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. “As Chief Minister in 2002, he pledged himself to providing what he used to call “the healing touch”. He faced many challenges. But such was the force of his personality and such was the confidence that he evoked across different sections of society that he was able to confront them successfully and fulfil the promises he had made,” Sonia said.
