Srinagar: People's Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said that she regrets posing a faith on the leader from that party who has demolished the constitution of the country, who stole everything from the erstwhile state.
"We didn't ally with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for power. If you remember my father made a statement on July 28, 2014, wherein he stated that he wants to work for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. By allying with the BJP, my father tried to put jinn into the bottle. He knew a Tsunami was coming. I regret trusting Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) who has demolished the constitution of the country," Mehbooba said while addressing a press conference at her official residence in Srinagar.
She further said, "It was not the alliance with BJP that led to the abrogation of Article 370 as everything was done from the parliament. It was the parliament that was misused. Parliament had no right to do this. We stood like a wall for Article 370. It was only because of releasing stone pelters, Jamaatis and returning the bodies of militants to their families that they bonhomie with BJP."
I have been a street fighter and coming on roads is nothing new for me, she proclaimed. Mehbooba claimed that the BJP-led Government of India is trying to replace the constitution of the country with its party manifesto.
"BJP has demolished the country's constitution and has been implementing anti-people acts. However, the current era of the authoritarian rule will also not sustain forever, she said adding that Hitler's rule also culminated.
"Anyone who is raising his or her voice over the abrogation of Article 370 is being suppressed. The fact is that the centre has failed to come up with the expectations of people over development, employment and other mandatory issues and to divert the attention, the government is blocking minorities and also Kashmiris,” Mehbooba said in her first press conference, 11 days after she was released from 14-month-long detention.
Our fight is not confined for the restoration of Article 370, but the resolution of Kashmir issue as well. Nobody can turn a blind eye towards Kashmir issue,” she claimed.
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"Those who think we will forget Article 370 are living in fool's paradise. People have given a lot of sacrifices and we won’t allow the sacrifices to go waste," she asserted.
She added that she will be the first person among the leaders to give her blood for this cause in case the need arises.
"We (Leaders) are united and people should also fight in unison. It is not the fight of Dr Farooq, Sajad Lone or any other leader. But of one and all,” she said.
“Since Article 370 was abrogated, the government left no stone unturned to hurt the sentiments of people by taking all the anti-people decisions. They don’t want people of Jammu and Kashmir. People are expendable for them,” she said.
Asked about her statement regarding the flag before the abrogation of Article 370, the former CM said that they are not going to raise any other flag till the flag of Jammu and Kashmir is returned.
“The ruling party has already demolished the constitution as well as the flag as the party used the flag (tricolour) in a pro-rapists rally in Jammu. The flag of Jammu and Kashmir was the only reason behind the relation with the other flag,” she said.
While replying to a query, she said, even if Jammu and Kashmir is a Union Territory or a State, “Mehbooba Mufti is not here for power”.
Regarding upcoming elections, she said that “Mehbooba has nothing to do with the elections.” However, she said that party leaders will sit together and the signatories of Peoples Alliance will also sit and take any decision accordingly.
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She added that BJP is dividing people on caste and religion, but “we have united and will also unite people.”
While replying to a query, Mehbooba said she knows the Article 370 case is currently “subjudice” but you need to create an atmosphere on the ground.
Asked about Geelani’s refusal to talk with the delegation from the Centre, Mehbooba said the refusal to meet the all-party delegation had negative results, adding that “It was not a delegation of BJP leaders. If Geelani was not willing to talk, he should have at least allowed them to enter the house. But restricting their entry in the home has portrayed a different picture of Kashmir,” she said.
"Geelani's action didn't affect BJP but us," she remarked.
