Admin selectively targetting PDP: Iltija Mufti

Srinagar, Oct 24: Iltija Mufti, the media advisor for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday questioned the “selective targeting” of the party by the Jammu and Kashmir administration. She sought clarification from the administration’s decision to disallow the party’s planned protest against the “atrocities committed by Israel on innocent Palestinian people”.
Speaking at a press conference here, Iltija said PDP had organised a protest programme to demonstrate solidarity with the Palestinian people who are facing severe hardships due to Israel’s actions. “India has historically stood with the Palestinian cause, but we are unable to understand why authorities do not allow us to raise our voice against Israel,” she said.
We live in a democratic country where everybody has a right to put forth their point of view but after 2019, nobody here is being allowed to raise their voice, she alleged.
Mufti mentioned the challenges faced by the party since 2019, including “orders from New Delhi to disrupt the PDP”, which she said resulted in several leaders leaving the party.
“Today, we had planned peaceful protests at all district headquarters to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people. However, our leaders were arrested, and the authorities objected to our demonstration,” she said, adding, “Our protest is not against our national interest. This way the authorities treat PDP as anti-national.”
The PDP’s media advisor questioned the rationale behind the administration’s actions and urged the authorities to respect the party’s right to express its views and organise peaceful functions.