Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on July 31, 2023 said the achievement of the current dispensation can be gauged from the fact that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru would unfurl the Tricolour in Srinagar without any security cover in 1949 but this regime needs elaborate security arrangements for it.
Addressing the party’s 24th foundation day in Srinagar, Ms. Mufti took on the Centre for its decisions onJammu and Kashmir in 2019. “What did the BJP achieve by doing away with the special constitutional provisions? Jawaharlal Nehru came to Lal Chowk and unfurled the Tricolour along with thousands of Kashmiris. Today, you [the BJP] hoist the Tricolour with an elaborate security cover. No Kashmiri could be seen,” Ms. Mufti said.
Elaborating on the ideology of party founder Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, Ms. Mufti said her father always wanted to work towards a solution to the Kashmir problem. “All solutions are possible within the sphere of humanity. What the BJP is doing in Manipur is not the way forward,” the former J&K Chief Minister said.
Ms. Mufti said her father firmly believed that J&K’s future was with India and did not believe in leading the people astray. “Mufti sahib’s first term as Chief Minister saw significant progress, both on account of reconciliation and development. The Advani-Hurriyat talks were held, the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road was reopened and development work was taken to a new level,” she said.
Ms. Mufti said the BJP was trying to convert the entire country into Manipur. “I appeal to the Opposition parties to stay united to counter such attempts. Manipur is just a trailer. The film is yet to start,” Ms. Mufti, while referring to the deaths in Manipur, said.
She also criticised the recent move of the Centre to reserve two seats for Kashmiri Pandits in the J&K Assembly. “If you have the courage, you should reserve the seats. We will vote for them just like we have done in the past. Constituencies with a Muslim population have elected P. L. Handoo, M. L. Fotedar, Manohar Koul, D.P. Dhar etc. Why no reservation for Sikhs? This is because you cannot do Hindu-Muslim [politics] if you give reservations to Sikhs,” Ms. Mufti said.
Parra takes on NC
Meanwhile, PDP youth leader Waheed Parra, without naming the National Conference (NC), took potshots at the party.
“Those who were responsible for 1987 rigging, creation of SOG (special operations group) and Task Force, and pushed youth to take up gun by depriving democratic agency over decades, are now begging for elections and an alliance in New Delhi,” Mr. Parra said.
He said unlike the NC the PDP wanted the Government of India and the BJP to permanently offer peace and dignity to people of J&K through an inclusive political process. “We want them to lift the siege around Kashmir,” he said.
He said the new parties that have popped up in Kashmir want government quarters, security guards etc. “Only the PDP workers stand for upholding dignity and democracy,” he added.
