PDP President Mehbooba Mufti claimed on Monday that Engineer Rashid’s AIP is acting as a proxy for the BJP.
Speaking to the media, Mehbooba said that on Sunday, one of the PDP candidates was brutally assaulted by AIP workers and leaders at Balpora, Shopian.
“PDP candidate Yawar Banday was beaten with batons by these AIP goons. His hips are broken, and he has suffered a head injury. His condition is serious,” she stated.
Mehbooba said the PDP is struggling to field candidates everywhere, despite having been formed decades ago. “But AIP, whose leader is in jail, has candidates everywhere. They hire thousands of vehicles for campaigning. Where does this money come from?” she questioned.
The PDP president claimed that AIP has full backing from the government.
“The AIP members attempted to murder our leader. Why are they still roaming free? Why hasn’t anyone been arrested so far? AIP has a powerful backing. After the abrogation of Article 370, the Centre created various proxy parties. Now, after failing with some, they are sponsoring AIP to target PDP,” she alleged.
She also mentioned that a rebel PDP leader from Wachi is campaigning for AIP. “This same leader has an NIA case against him, and New Delhi is blackmailing him. All parties, except PDP, Congress, NC, and CPI(M), have full backing from the Centre,” she claimed.
Mehbooba also pointed out that during the PDP-BJP regime, her government had released 12,000 youths. “What did Omar Abdullah do? Nothing,” she added. (KNS)
