Administrative apathy fatal than Covid-19 pandemic: Mehbooba Mufti

Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and President of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti on Friday accused the Union Territory administration of acting in a biased manner.

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir):Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and President of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti on Friday accused the Union Territory administration of acting in a biased manner.

Responding to a notice issued by the Tehsildar of south Kashmir's Shopian district on August 25, she said, "After being released from illegal detention which lasted well over a year, despite multiple attempts to reach out to my party cadre and workers, I was repeatedly prevented by the state administration from doing so on one pretext or the other. Barring a handful of instances, I am not allowed to discharge my duties as the president of a political party."

In her reply, Mehbooba further said, "This particular PDP workers meet held in Shopian on 25th of August has been flagged by the administration for the reasons best known to you. It is strange and baffling that that on the very same day, Honourable LG presided over a function attended by hundreds of people and that too indoors. If Covid-19 is indeed issue, why workers meet was flagged in the first place, then why wasn't the same yardstick applied to the Honourable LG's programme. Covid 19 virus doesn't discriminate but unfortunately, it's painfully obvious that this administration does. Your actions reek of bias and political space for those who disagree with the ruling party is deliberately being choked."

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"In the past few months itself there are multiple examples of other political parties that were not only allowed to hold conventions and political gatherings but were in fact facilitated and encouraged by the administration," she said, adding, "Since my release, a clear pattern has emerged in which my public interaction programs and movement is intentionally thwarted, cancelled or prevented. Earlier the excuse invoked was security restrictions and now Covid has become preferred alibi used by this administration."

At the end of her response, she writes, "At the time when Jammu and Kashmir have been plunged into a state of upheaval and uncertainty, as a political leader I owe to my people to hear their grievances and the pain they are subjected to. This is the least one can do and therefore I will continue to reach out and engage with my people."

Earlier, on August 25, the Tehsildar of Shopian through a notice sought an explanation from Mehbooba regarding the party's workers meet while violating COVID protocol.