Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, May 21: Despite fielding candidates against National Conference, which is part of INDIA bloc, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti today said that her party would continue to be part of the Alliance on its ideological basis.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
“PDP supports INDIA bloc on ideological basis as Rahul Gandhi is the only leader who is working to safeguard the Constitution,” she said while talking to media persons, here today.
Alleging that BJP would change the Constitution and finish reservation if it comes to power again, Mehbooba said that PDP agrees with INDIA bloc on the need to safeguard the Constitution.
“The Constitution is the foundation of our country and we need to protect it desperately as otherwise no rights will be left with us. They (BJP) not only want to change the Constitution but also finish the reservation of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes, notwithstanding what they are saying,” she said.
On Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim that he never uttered a word against the minorities in his election rallies, Mehbooba said, “he can take a U-turn because he is the Prime Minister. The reality is that BJP has fallen so low after feeling that their 400-plus seats target is not achievable and their Hindu-Muslim narrative has found no takers among the voters.”
Mehbooba claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent two-day visit to Kashmir has raised some concerns in the Valley as people fear a repeat of 1987 when there was mass rigging to benefit a particular party.
“They (BJP) are afraid of PDP because we are raising people’s issues. We have observed a slow pace in the PDP-dominated areas during voting in Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. I also have reservations over some Polling Stations here in Rajouri,” she said and also alleged that the recent two terror attacks in south Kashmir were an attempt to create fear among the voters in Anantnag seat and to harm her party.
The PDP chief opined the record voter turnout in Srinagar and Baramulla seats should be seen as a message to New Delhi, and that says: “We are angry with your decisions and these are not acceptable to us.”
The PDP president also alleged that all developmental works done by his father, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, during his tenure as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, were being done away with. “The standard of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University is falling with the induction of contractual professors, while the cross-LoC trade remains suspended from 2019,” she lamented.
Later, Mehbooba Mufti left for Poonch where she led a road show from Parade Ground to Poonch Fort and appealed people to vote for her on May 25 when polling will be held for the Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary constituency.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
