Struggling to revive fortunes of her own party in the electoral politics of Jammu & Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti Sunday claimed elections were not the solution to the “Kashmir problem”.
She also batted for holding a dialogue with the people of Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan to resolve the issue.
Angry PDP Chief also accused the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) government of muzzling dissent and building an ecosystem in which “there is no place for democracy.”
Addressing a press conference at her residence in Srinagar, a day after more than 50 percent voters participated in the first phase of the DDC polls in Jammu and Kashmir, PDP Chief asked a question, “if Abrogation of Article 370 has resolved all the issues then why 9 lakh troops are still stationed in kashmir and why they have not been sent to the borders”.
Referring to the heavy turnout of voters, the former Chief Minister said, “In the past, the polling percentage has been higher than this (DDC polls) but it is no solution to the Kashmir problem. Kashmir problem is still there as long as there are nine lakh soldiers in our state. She asked, “Which state of India has so many soldiers that too in civilian areas”.
She added: “In an election, how many people participate and how many don’t has nothing to do with the Kashmir issue. Kashmir issue is going to be there as long as there is no resolution through a dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and with Pakistan.”
Cornering the Bharatiya Janta Party led government at the Centre PDP Chief said they had “made a mockery of democracy”.
“Black laws prevail in the country and the weapon which they use is UAPA. Muslims are being called Pakistani. Sardars are called Khalistani. Activists are called Urban Naxals. Kashmiris are called terrorists. The students are called tukde-tukde gang. Women who protest are called anti-national. If everyone is a Khalistani, Pakistani and anti-national then who is Hindustani in this country? Only Bharatiya Janata Party workers?” she said.
Referring to the 25000 crore Roshni scam, Mehbooba Mufti said, The Jammu and Kashmir government had cancelled all land transfers that took place under the Roshni Act.
“The Roshni scheme was a law passed during the time of the National Conference and implemented during the time of (Ghulam Nabi) Azad sahab. It was a law, it was made by our assembly If anyone legalised their land in that law, how is it a scam? If they think rich people have taken a lot of land, go after that. Why are they going after poor people who have 2 marla, 5 marla land?,” she noted.
Mufti also accused the BJP government of silencing her voice. I am being told “directly and indirectly” not to talk about Article 370.
“Why do they get rattled by what I say when their own leaders talk about Article 370. They want to go after me because I raise my voice. They want to get to me. They want to ban my party,” she said.
She said, “After we decided to participate in the DDC election, the degree of oppression has increased in Jammu & Kashmir. Candidates of PAGD are confined and are not allowed to go out for campaigning. How candidates will contest if they are not allowed to organise their campaign meetings?”
