Jammu, Nov 09 (KNS): People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday accused New Delhi of fanning militancy in J&K after taking “anti-people” and “undemocratic” steps viz abrogation of Article 370 and 35(A) in last year.
Mehbooba who was addressing a packed press conference at party’s Jammu office said that BJP has fanned the militancy in Jammu and Kashmir while abolishing special status of J&K under Article 370 and 35(A). She said the “undemocratic” decisions of BJP government at center led to surge in militancy related activities here.
She asserted that BJP will have to return everything snatched from people of Jammu and Kashmir including rights that were taken away on August 5, 2019.
“We want every right back to J&K that were snatched by BJP Government so far including Article 370”, Mehbooba said.
The PDP chief said that Article 370 and other provisions of special status of J&K were not meant for Muslims of Kashmiris alone but were for all shades of life and were indeed brought by Maharaja rule to save the Dogra culture.
Resembling decisions of August 5, 2019 with “darkness”, the PDP chief said that the uncertain and chaotic situation that J&K witnessed after August 5, 2019 has engulfed Jammu also and people here are too much worried with the sequence of events.
To a query, Mehbooba said that the present BJP government is following an iron-fist policy and whosoever speaks against them is being booked under “frivolous” charges.
She said that youth of Kashmir is preferring to hold gun rather than going in jail forcibly. “The highhandedness of Government has pushed youth of Kashmir towards militancy and the extremism has also witnessed a rise in BJP rule”, PDP chief said.
In reply to a question related to her controversial remarks over holding national flag, Mehbooba Mufti said that she took oath of both Jammu and Kashmir's constitution and constitution of India and will hold both flags together.
She further suggested Government of India to learn from foreign policy adopted by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and to restore normalcy on borders with Pakistan where innocent people are dying due to firing.
“I reiterate the slogan of Late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for opening of more and more border routes on Indo-Pak borders”, she said while giving reference of Late. Mufti's statement for unification of Jammu and Kashmir as well as Pakistan Administered Kashmir besides solution of Kashmir issue.
She also said that Late. Mufti upheld national flag in Jammu and Kashmir at a time when he was socially boycotted.
While hitting hard over BJP and Government of India with allegations to snatch resources of Jammu and Kashmir, former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that even the sand and clay from rivers of Jammu and Kashmir are being snatched with local people here are getting sand to the cost of twenty one thousand per vehicle and this all is due to anti-people policies of BJP.
She said that local people of Jammu and Kashmir are not getting place in employment now which is cause of concern and is worrying everyone here in Jammu also.
Regarding PAGDs decision to contest DDC polls unitedly, she said that Congress's decision to contest polls with PAGD has already been announced by Chairman PAGD Dr Farooq Abdullah.
She however added that modalities of distribution of tickets for DDC polls under PAGD banner are yet to be finalized. (KNS)