JAMMU: Peoples Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti praised former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's vision on Jammu and Kashmir and called for bringing back them for the development of the state.
Mufti's comments on the Bharatiya Janata Party leader have gained significance as it came after her meeting with Governor N N Vohra on government formation.
She noted that for peace in Jammu and Kashmir, Vajpayee had "started a political process. Vajpayeeji had started dialogue with Hurriyat, he had started dialogue with Pakistan when L K advani was the Deputy Prime Minister. We got generous economic package. UPA continued it for some time and thenstopped it."
Mufti also said the result of the recent Assembly elections had given a big responsibility for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Referring to Modi's "dream" of development and addressing the problem of unemployment, the PDP leader said there cannot be "development till there is peace on the ground".
Mufti, whose party has emerged as the single largest party in the state with 28 seats, however, said PDP's priority is not to cobble up majority for the sake of government.
Whatever formation is firmed up, it should respect the mandate of the people and have the principle of "reconciliation", she said, adding "till that is not taken along, forming any government will be useless".
A political stalemate has been created in the state as the polls threw up a hung verdict with no party getting simple majority to form the government. The BJP has bagged 25 seats.
Mufti said her meeting with the Governor was "informal" in the wake of a "decisive but divided mandate."
The Governor had earlier invited the PDP leader and the Bharatiya Janata Party state president Jugal Kishore Sharma for separate meetings to discuss the issue.
Sharma is likely to meet the Governor on Thursday.
PDP has emerged as the single largest party in the elections with 28 seats while the BJP has bagged 26 seats in the 87-member assembly.
(With inputs from PTI)