‘Raking up Pak issue in elections showcases failure’
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Sept 20: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said that the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) should be “grateful” to the Abdullahs for ensuring Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to the Union of India and for “furthering its agenda.”
Speaking to reporters after addressing a public gathering at Nawab Bazar in old Srinagar, Mufti was responding to allegations made by the Prime Minister, who accused the Abdullahs, Muftis, and others of “implementing Pakistan’s agenda” and instilling “fear and agony” among the people of J&K.
“The Prime Minister should be thankful to the Abdullahs. It was Sheikh Abdullah who made the accession of J&K to India possible. Omar, when he was a Minister, implemented POTA and ensured the ban on shahtoosh,” she said.
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“He (Omar) was taken to places around the world and told everyone that the Kashmir issue was a non-issue, framing it as a matter of terrorism and advocating for attacking Pakistan to resolve it once and for all. Omar implemented their agenda in J&K,” she said.
The former Chief Minister further remarked that if the Sheikh family had implemented Pakistan’s agenda, “J&K would either have been a part of Pakistan or been independent; it was a Muslim-majority state. BJP should be thankful to that family.”
Regarding her own family, Mufti said that the BJP leaders begged them to form a Government in 2014, agreeing to any condition putforth by the PDP.
“We told them not to meddle with Article 370, demanded the opening of more roads connecting Kashmir, the revocation of AFSPA, and talks with Pakistan and the Hurriyat. They came to us to form the Government, and they also approached Omar to use him. What are they saying now?” she said.
Speaking about the BJP, she said they have failed on every front and are now raising the Pakistan issue.
“They promised 2 crore jobs every year; instead, they engaged in communal politics. After all they’ve done, they are now reminded of Pakistan. It showcases their failure,” she added.
In her address to the public, Mufti said her father was always concerned about the people of Srinagar, promising that if her party returns to power, they will work in line with Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s vision for the city.
Listing her accomplishments during her tenure, she said, “I revoked the FIRs that were filed under the National Conference’s rule. I also wrote to Hurriyat leaders, asking them to meet and speak with the delegations that came from Delhi, but they didn’t respond.”
While urging the public to vote for the PDP candidate from the Habba Kadal Assembly constituency, Mehbooba asked, “You’ve voted for one side for so long-aren’t you tired of it? There is a need for an alternative, and you must consider it.”
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