AMN /
Even as suspense over formation of new government in Jammu and Kashmir continued, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari met PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti to mourn the demise of former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
The meetings were seen with political significance.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday reached the Gupkar residence of Muftis’ and offer her condolences. She was accompanied by Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and senior Congress leaders Ambika Soni and Saif-u-din Soz.
Politicians and the PDP workers have been making a beeline since early today at the Muftis’ residences in Srinagar and Bijbehara to offer condolences.
The meetings took place even as BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh expressed confidence that the alliance with PDP will continue as he said the party has written to Governor NN Vohra saying it will have a discussion on whatever decision the the ally takes.
Gandhi, who arrived from Delhi, drove straight from the airport to the Fairview residence of Mehbooba in Gupkar here at 3 pm. She stayed with the PDP president for about 20 minutes and paid rich tributes to her father and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed who passed away last Thursday.
Gandhi, whose party ran a coalition government with PDP between 2002 and 2008, described Mufti as a “fine administrator committed to the welfare of the people” of the state and one who reflected the best of Indian values rooted in respect for diversity and anchored in tolerance.
Noting that in 2002 he had committed to provide a ‘healing touch’ as Chief Minister, she said, “Mufti Saheb cut across party boundaries. He was beyond party affiliations. He belonged to everybody.”
Gadkari meets Mehbooba, says ‘GOI will realise Mufti’s dreams’
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways of India, Nitin Gadkari, on Sunday said that the government of India will work to realise all the dreams of Mufti Muhammad Sayeed.
He said this to reporters at the Gupkar residence of Muftis’ where he met Mehbooba to offer his condolences on the death od Sayeed.
He was accompanied by BJP State President, Sat Sharma and senior leaders, Dr. Nirmal Singh and Sukhnandan Kumar.
The Union Minister said the entire country stood in solidarity with the bereaved family in sharing grief on the demise of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, said an official handout.