Srinagar, May 10 (KNS): Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti, on Friday, emphasized that the ongoing elections in Jammu and Kashmir are not merely about civic amenities but represent a crucial battle for the region's dignity, honor, and the freeing of its innocent youth who are currently languishing in jails without trials.
Addressing the people in Ganderbal, Mehbooba condemned the raids conducted by agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), terming them as assaults on the innocent people of Jammu and Kashmir. She highlighted the plight of the youth languishing in jails without trials, urging voters to cast their mandate in favor of candidates who empathize with the common Kashmiri. Mehbooba said that the main reason for fielding Waheed ur Rahman Parra from the Srinagar constituency is that there is no person other than him who can relate to the pain of a common Kashmiri and represent them in the parliament.
"Waheed was accused of freeing jailed youth, rehabilitating downtrodden families. He himself has come from a humble background, and there is no other person more able than him to represent the people, their real aspirations, and needs in the parliament He represents those youth who are being inflicted torture, who are being jailed, hounded and ridiculed. Waheed is amongst those youths. Therefore, he will go to parliament and represent those bruised voices there. He will rather become their voice there," Mehbooba said.
Reacting to the Election Commission of India (ECI) notice served to Parra for telling people that vote should be your referendum, the PDP President said that it is an irony that BJP leaders are spewing venom in poll rallies, instigating riots, pitting Hindus against Muslims and the ECI is silent. "But when a candidate speaks of the agonies of people of Jammu and Kashmir, he is served with notice. This can give you an idea about what is going wrong in this country and where," Mehbooba said.
Reflecting on the need for unity among political groups, the PDP President recounted her efforts to foster cooperation during the tumultuous period surrounding the abrogation of Article 370. However, she expressed disappointment over the lack of consultation from the National Conference (NC) before declaring candidates. She also highlighted the importance of unity in safeguarding the interests of Jammu and Kashmir.
"When Article 370 was about to be abrogated, I strived for unity among different political groups. I approached them all by myself. When NC and PDP formed an alliance, this unnerved the BJP-led government at the center. At INDIA Bloc's meeting in Mumbai, I reposed my trust in Dr. Farooq Abdullah and declared that he is an octogenarian of the amalgam and he will decide our future strategy. It is common sense that whenever our elders have to decide on something, they discuss it first and take everyone on board. However, what Dr. Farooq Abdullah did was shocking. They didn't even call me once before declaring candidates. Rather, Omar Abdullah called the press conference and declared that PDP is finished and has no say in Jammu and Kashmir's political landscape. This was unfortunate because our fight was not for the chair. If we could have been united, things would have been different. There were three MPs from NC in the parliament when Article 370 was abrogated, what those three MPs did at that time? Post 370 abrogation, unity was the need of the hour, but Omar Abdullah's assertion stirred the emotions of PDP workers and common masses all across. These workers have been by my side during the most tumultuous times, when even my party was broken. How they could have remained silent over such blatant remarks," Mehbooba said.
She also reminisced about the achievements of the PDP during its brief tenure, including efforts to restore peace, repeal oppressive laws, and promote education. "People know the three-year rule of the PDP when peace with dignity was accorded to the masses and what we did in our brief tenure, NC couldn't do in 50 years of its rule. We ended gun culture, repealed the black laws, opened roads across the LOC, and built new universities. This was all done by the PDP in mere three years," Mehbooba said.
The PDP President reiterated that the current election is a crusade against injustice and oppression. She also stressed the urgency of addressing the suffocation felt by the common Kashmiri. "A common Kashmiri is feeling suffocated. No one is allowed to speak up. The government wants to present a different picture, claiming tourists are coming in large numbers but a common Kashmiri is dying every day due to suffocation, due to the mental agonies inflicted upon him and multiple assaults on his identity. This election is to stop that tirade," Mehbooba said.
Mehbooba said that the reason PDP has been targeted on multiple fronts was its pro-people approach and unbending courage. "Those who were sent to the parliament in the last elections preferred to remain silent when people of Jammu and Kashmir were subjected to the worst atrocities, when our special status was removed. It was PDP alone that took to streets against each and every highhandedness of the government. This was the reason that PDP was targeted on multiple fronts. My own MLAs were lured away, they even tried to break my party, I was made homeless, my travel documents were taken away. But it was people's support and immense love I possess for this land that made me face every hardship with invincible courage. They tried to threaten me by getting me out of my house. They thought such tactics would break me. They do not know that my father- PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed didn't leave any estate behind. I inherited only people's trust and support from him. But that’s the best treasure I received. That is my sumptuous possession," Mehbooba said.(KNS)