Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 24: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter, Iltija Mufti, today labeled the National Conference (NC) a “party of thieves,” accusing them of doing nothing for the people over the past several decades.
While campaigning for PDP candidate Fayaz Ahmad Mir in north Kashmir’s Kupwara, Iltija criticized Kupwara’s long-standing support for the NC, claiming it yielded no benefits for the people, in contrast to what the PDP has done.
“There are only two parties; one is the NC, the party of ‘thieves’. They were in power for 70 years, Kupwara voted for them, but they gave you nothing. And now they shamelessly come here seeking your vote,” she said.
She accused the NC of bringing “agony and oppression” to Kupwara, while stressing that the PDP has always worked for the people’s betterment, even though it won no seats in the 2002 Assembly elections. Click here to watch video
In a separate public rally in Lolab, Iltija asserted that she is neither “pretentious”, nor a politician. “I don’t know how to act like one. People speak ill of Mehbooba Mufti, but she still raises the concerns and issues of the people,” she said.
She reiterated that the NC has held power with a large number of seats, adding, “If they couldn’t do anything in 70 years, what are they going to do now?”
“You didn’t give the PDP a single seat in 2002, yet we still worked for the betterment of the people. You used to be humiliated, there was a fear of the task force, and we ended it. Even if people speak ill of Mehbooba, she always stood up for you.”
Iltija emphasized that the hardships and injustices have returned. “We will put an end to arrests. Youth should have laptops in their hands, not be sent to jails. They should go to universities. Young girls deserve quality education, so they can excel and become KAS officers.”
“If you vote for someone else, it will be a total waste, especially if you vote for the party that has been in power and did nothing for Kupwara. Delhi wants to take everything from us—to stop that, you must vote for the PDP,” she added.