Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar June 9: President of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, called upon the people of Jammu and Kashmir to unite and fight for their rights, drawing inspiration from the joint efforts of the people of Leh and Kargil to safeguard their identity, job security, and land.
Speaking to reporters at the party headquarters in Srinagar, Mufti emphasised the importance of preserving the constitutional rights of the people, which she believes have been unjustly curtailed.
“I understand the immense significance of elections, but it is crucial to prioritise the preservation of the constitutional rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, which have been unjustly curtailed. We must address the alarming situation where journalists are jailed, their passports confiscated, and religious leaders detained. Even a prominent religious leader like Rahmatullah Qasmi was summoned by the NIA,” she said.
Mehbooba said that while elections remain important, they take a backseat when fundamental rights are denied.
The PDP president urged the people of both Jammu and Kashmir to unite and understand that the BJP is exploiting them by fostering a divide. “We witnessed the commendable unity displayed by the people of Kargil and Leh in safeguarding their identity, job security, and land, compelling the BJP-led government to heed their demands. I implore the people of Jammu and Kashmir to rally together in a similar manner and recognise that the BJP is exploiting them. PDP is the ideal platform that voices the genuine concerns of our people,” she said.
Mehbooba said the PDP Government has always tried to bring the people of Jammu and Kashmir closer by ensuring equitable development of both regions. “It is worth highlighting that Jammu and Kashmir stands as the only state with two AIIMS institutes, an accomplishment I fought for diligently. Each region has also been bestowed with a smart city. Our government Gas ensured an equal allocation of colleges between Jammu and Srinagar. Despite these equitable efforts, certain forces seek to foster division,” she said.
When asked about joining opposition parties that are uniting nationwide against the BJP Government, she said she firmly believed that there was no viable alternative other than aligning with the opposition.
“It is crucial for us to safeguard the principles of Gandhi’s India and prevent this nation from succumbing to a Godse’s ideology. Joining hands with the opposition is the only way to preserve communal harmony and protect our country from further harm and devastation,” she said.
The PDP Chief urged more people to join the PDP, collaborate like Leh and Kargil, and advocated for our rights, compelling Delhi to rectify the ill-conceived measures implemented in 2019, which aimed to undermine the Jammu and Kashmir population. “The alleged dominance over Jammu was baseless, and the BJP is exacerbating the situation, leading to a decline in the education sector,” she said.
Asked about the BJP’s claims about AIIMS and other developmental projects in Kashmir, she refrains from engaging in discussions with them. “It is evident that many of these initiatives were taken during our tenure, despite the unfavourable circumstances, and we expedited their implementation. It is regrettable to witness the top officials, whom I would not name to avoid casting aspersions, inaugurating these projects as if they were responsible for their fruition,” she said.
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