New Delhi: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti claimed that the Centre has "exacerbated the trust deficit among the people of Jammu and Kashmir" by delaying the state polls, maintaining 'silence' on Article 35A, detaining Hurriyat leaders and banning Jamat-e-Islami, among other things.
"GoI has exacerbated the trust deficit in recent months by- 1) Delaying state polls in J and K 2) Uneasy silence on Article 35A 3) Banning Jamaat 4) Clamping down on free press 5) Misusing NIA 6) Detaining Hurriyat leaders 7) Tacitly supporting attacks on Kashmiris outside J and K," she tweeted.
On Sunday, the Election Commission announced that no simultaneous polls for the State Assembly would be held in Jammu and Kashmir while announcing the dates of Lok Sabha polls - a move which Mufti termed a 'sinister' design of the Centre.
"Decision to hold only Parliamentary elections in J and K confirms sinister designs of GoI. Not letting people elect a government is antithetical to the very idea of democracy. Also a tactic of buying time to disempower people by pushing an agenda that suits their ulterior motives," tweeted Mufti.
The government has launched a crackdown against ‘separatist’ elements in the valley in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack. The Ministry of Home Affairs banned Jamat-e-Islami under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for a period of five years.
PDP and BJP were alliance partners in Jammu and Kashmir for three years before BJP parted ways citing PDP’s 'soft corner' separatist elements in the valley. (ANI)
With inputs from ANI.
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