Booked in FIR, Mehbooba alleges bid to silence voices on Article 370
A day after an FIR was registered against her and daughter Iltija Mufti for allegedly assaulting a police officer during the PDP’s Article 370 protest, party president Mehbooba Mufti on Friday accused the government of criminalising dissent and targeting those speaking for Jammu and Kashmir’s rights. She also exhorted party workers to remain committed to the PDP’s agenda irrespective of any legal action against its leaders.
Mehbooba urged her party supporters, who had assembled in the party office in Srinagar, to remain steadfast on the path shown by PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for the resolution of the Kashmir issue.
She said “This isn’t about Mehbooba Mufti or Iltija Mufti as individuals. It is about silencing every voice that speaks for the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and questions the unconstitutional abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A”.
“Mehbooba Mufti will come and go, Iltija Mufti will come and go, but the aspirations and sentiments of the people will endure. The People’s Democratic Party will continue its peaceful and democratic struggle to represent those aspirations and stand by the people of Jammu and Kashmir”, she added.
“They (the BJP government) trampled the Constitution, and a time will come when they will have to correct it. But you do not have to lose courage”, she said.
“If you have to save the real Jammu and Kashmir, its land and resources, then you have to remain steadfast. I am here now; I may not be here tomorrow. Whether I or Iltija are here or not, the PDP will continue its peaceful and democratic struggle for the restoration of Article 370”, she said.
Mehbooba said targeting the PDP was not something new. “Our party was broken, and new parties were created. Those parties defended the abrogation of Article 370 in the country. The targeting of the PDP is still going on. Why was there no action against the National Conference or Congress or others? Talking about Article 370 has become a crime. Those who talk about Article 370 are branded criminals”, she said.
The PDP was the only party that raised the voice on Article 370, while others only want restoration of statehood, she claimed.
She said no FIR was registered against BJP activists who raised “derogatory” slogans against Kashmiri women during their 5 August rally.