Anantnag, Sept 09: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday alleged that after “splitting” her party, the government created “proxy” parties in Jammu & Kashmir.
“Following their failure in the parliamentary elections, the authorities are now presenting Er Rashid’s Awami Ittihad Party (AIP) as a new proxy,” she said.
Mufti further claimed that AIP workers attacked PDP candidate Yawar Banday, who is currently battling for his life at SMHS Hospital with severe injuries, including broken ribs, sustained during the assault in the Balpora village of Shopian.
Addressing a press conference in Anantnag, the PDP chief expressed deep concern over the alleged attack and questioned the source of AIP’s strength and resources. “Yawar Banday is in critical condition, and I want to know who is behind the organisation that is electing candidates from various places. My father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, took 50 years to build PDP, and yet we don’t have the resources to nominate candidates everywhere. Where is AIP getting the funds and the power to attack others?” she asked.
Mehbooba urged the government to clarify its stance. “If Er Rashid’s party is being used as a government proxy, they should make it clear. Otherwise, why has no action been taken yet? Why aren’t those responsible for the attack in jail?” she said.
The former chief minister appealed to the public not to fall for what she described as “proxy parties” and alleged that there were attempts to divide the Kashmiri vote, particularly targeting the PDP. “It’s alarming that AIP, whose leader is in jail, is still able to muster such resources, mobilise thousands of vehicles, and operate with impunity. The people should reflect on where this money is coming from,” she said.
She further alleged that the “splintering” of the PDP was a calculated move, and the rise of AIP was part of a broader strategy to undermine the party. “After breaking PDP, they tried proxies in the Parliamentary elections, which failed, and now they are backing AIP,” she claimed.
Mufti also accused independent candidate and former PDP member of being “sponsored” to contest against the party. Referring to the Wachi constituency candidate, who had previously left the National Conference (NC) to join PDP but is now running with the symbol of a pressure cooker, she said, “We gave him respect and a platform, and now he is being used against us.”
In a pointed critique of the NC-Congress alliance, she said it lacked principles, accusing the National Conference of rigging the 1987 elections, which, she claimed, had led to decades of suffering in Kashmir. “Even today, for the lust of power, NC is fielding independent candidates against Congress, as they did in Ladakh,” she added.
