Srinagar, May 08: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday questioned the Union government’s assertions about restoring normalcy in Kashmir, saying many youths are still languishing in jails across the country without trials while employees are terminated from government jobs.
Addressing poll rallies in the Chadoora area of the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, she also criticised the disparity in power tariffs, saying Jammu & Kashmir provides subsidised power to other states while its own residents face exorbitant rates.
“There are dire levels of joblessness in the region. These ongoing elections are crucial for the future generations of Jammu and Kashmir to pull the youth out of the uncertainty morass,” she said.
Regarding the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), the former chief minister said she wanted to work with other political groups like the National Conference (NC). “But when (NC Vice President) Omar Abdullah said PDP wasn’t important, it made our workers and people upset. They too did not like the arrogant attitude,” she said. “I trusted (NC Chief) Dr Farooq Abdullah and believed he would decide the next steps fairly. Had he told me directly that he thought NC could represent the people of Jammu and Kashmir better in parliament, that would have been fine”
Mehbooba said Omar Abdullah held a press conference without consulting PDP leadership. “He said PDP is nowhere on the ground and has disappeared from politics. This woke up our workers and even common people across Jammu and Kashmir,” she said.
Recalling the legacy of the party, Mufti said the PDP is the one that brought the people “peace with dignity”. “Sometimes people were unhappy with us, but it’s true that PDP still exists in people’s hearts. This is the reason people all across are showing overwhelming support to our campaigns,” she added.
Highlighting the party’s achievements including the opening of the Muzaffarabad Road and setting up institutions like AIIMS and the Islamic University of Science & Technology, etc, she said, “For the first time, PDP formed the government in 2002, and within a mere three years, the entire picture changed. People heaved a sigh of relief from uncertainty, bloodshed, and mayhem, and a new era of peace and tranquillity ushered.”
On the occasion, PDP’s Srinagar candidate Waheed ur Rahman Parra highlighted the significance of the upcoming elections, saying these polls represent a crucial battle to safeguard the interests of future generations in Jammu and Kashmir.
“If people this time also prefer to stay indoors on voting day, history will not be kind to us. We are seeing how our youth are being hounded by a band of tie-wearing bandits these days,” he said.
Parra urged people to remain steadfast. “It is a matter of a few more days, and God willing, we will sail through. It is time to strengthen the PDP and strengthen Mehbooba Mufti,” he said.
