Mufti while addressing a party gathering in her home district of Anantnag in southern Kashmir said that unlike the current Omar Abdullah led National Conference government she was pro-people and took several steps to balm and heal the wounds of the people.
“During my tenure (as CM between 2016-2018) people carried axes, pelted stones and burnt down police stations, targeted army camps and damaged bridges. You remember apple orchard in Bamdoora village which was cut down and burnt,” said Mufti adding, “There was no doubt bullets and pellets in response of all of this but I was extremely miser in slapping PSAs.”
The People’s Democratic Party chief said that had she slapped PSAs then “God forbid thousands of youngsters would have been in trouble right now.” She further stated that she revoked 12000 FIRs filed against youngsters.
“But the current rulers have slapped PSA against six youngsters for protesting against an alleged sexual harrassment of a young girl. I am not with stone pelting or vandalism, but when an FIR is registered against a youngsters his life ends there. He cannot get a passport and he cannot get a job as well, “said Mufti, adding, “What will they do now. Their life has ruined and after eight to ten years, they will be acquitted but what will they do then.”
The PDP chief said that youngsters are facing the brunt and if they express themselves they are summoned to the police stations.
“Today those released from jails long ago who have now become parents and grandparents are summoned to police stations on the eve of 26 January (Republic Day), 15 August (Independence Day) or during any other high profile visit,” said Mufti. She further said that the “authorities have even intervened” in Masjid Committees who looked after the masjid and poor families in their respective areas. “Now nobody wants to be in that committee as police records all his personal and financial details,” said Mufti.The current Omar Abdullah led NC government, Mufti said has not fulfilled the promises and has even blocked the pro-poor bills like regularization of daily-wagers and ownership rights to the poor people living on grazing land from decades brought by the PDP in the J&K Assembly. “Instead they passed a bill for rich hoteliers who could have fought for their rights in the court of law. The BJP and NC joined hands to pass this bill,” said Mufti.
She took a dig at the NC stating that they have ruled J&K for six decades and have not been able to bring any relief to the people. “When NC had majority in 1996, they brought draconian laws like POTA, created Task force in police, backed groups like Ikhwan and the employment in their era was completely banned,” said Mufti. She said that when NC could not do anything in a state with majority in the assembly and Article 370 and 35 (A) were intact, what will they do now in the Union Territory.
“It is about whether it is a state or UT. It is about the person who is leading. A CM should have the courage and power to speak. Recently when Ali Khamenei was martyred Omar Abdullah could not dare to condemn it,” said Mufti adding, “Punjab assembly condemned the attacks on Iran but our Muslim majority assembly could not do it.”
She urged her party members to stand united reminiscing that PDP gave sacrifices and was the worst sufferer after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. “Our party made sacrifices and we suffered the pain (of abandonments by the members). But Almighty rewards sacrifices like it happened in Iran. Almighty will help us as well and we will also stage a comeback after these sacrifices,” said Mufti.
She urged patriotic and honest youngsters to come forward and join the party ranks and be ready to fight the upcoming Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies elections. “Anantnag is our hometown…you should all unite under the banner of PDP and reah out to people to tell them the difference between NC and PDP. Like in 2002 elections, whole of south Kashmir should stand united so that other areas will follow suit,” said Mufti.
