Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Aug 30: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said that when the National Conference (NC) is in power, elections become “halal” (permissible), but when they lose, participation in the electoral process becomes “haram” (forbidden).
Click here to watch video
Speaking to reporters at the party headquarters, Mufti delved into the history of how the NC has labelled elections as either permissible or forbidden based on their convenience.
She stated that the NC views J&K as their “kingdom” and that they were the ones who began the narrative of “haram” and “halal” elections.
“NC thinks that J&K is their kingdom; it is disheartening. They actually started labelling elections as ‘haram’ or ‘halal’ in J&K. In 1947, when Sheikh Abdullah was made administrative officer and later acceded to India, the elections were ‘halal’. When he became Prime Minister, the elections were halal. But when he was dethroned, elections became ‘haram’ for 22 years,” she said.
She was responding to recent comments made by NC vice President Omar Abdullah regarding Jamaat-e-Islami’s decision to participate in elections.
The PDP president added that during those 22 years, Sheikh Abdullah talked about “self-determination” and “used to say that they have to free J&K and that elections are haram.”
She continued, stating that in 1975, when Sheikh was made Chief Minister from Prime Minister, “the elections became ‘halal’ again. In 1987, who made it ‘halal’ or haram for Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) or the Muslim United Front (MUF)?”
Mufti referring to NC asked who made the participation of the Jamaat-e-Islami or other parties, including the MUF (Muslim United Front), in the elections ‘haram’?
She alleged that in 1987, the NC resorted to “election rigging” because they didn’t want a third force to emerge in the form of MUF or any other party, effectively “closing the doors” of elections to those who wanted to participate in the political process.
“They had already allied with Congress and engaged in rigging. As a result, other parties that wanted to participate in the political process were shut out of the elections once and for all. The NC started this narrative of labeling elections as halal or haram,” she said, adding, “When NC holds power, the elections are ‘halal’; when they lose it, they become ‘haram’.”
The former Chief Minister also stated that Jamaat-e-Islami participating in elections is not new in J&K. “Geelani was involved in the election process long ago; they have been a part of it.”
She further urged the Government to lift the ban imposed on Jamaat-e-Islami and return the assets and institutions the organization operated across J&K.
“Their desire to contest elections is a welcome step because democracy is a battle of ideas. Even the ban must be lifted; their institutions and assets must be returned.”
Follow our WhatsApp channel
