We’re here to safeguard people’s future, not party’s: Iltija Mufti

Anantnag, May 06: Iltija Mufti, Media Advisor to the former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said her party is not fighting for its own future but to safeguard the future of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
She made these remarks while addressing the media on the sidelines of a program in Adlash village of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, where women warmly welcomed her with traditional Kashmiri songs. Iltija was accompanied by PDP spokesperson Najmu Saqib.
She in her address said, “Since the abrogation of Article 370, people have been feeling hopeless, disappointed and suffocated, lacking the freedom to express themselves. When we engage with the people, we receive immense love as people feel stifled. I genuinely appreciate the love and respect that people show towards me, which I believe stems from being Mufti sahib’s granddaughter and Mehbooba ji’s daughter. I hold that respect in high regard.”
She alleged that journalists, politicians and anyone speaking out are being unjustly imprisoned.
The PDP leader accused the Centre of conducting the delimitation of the Anantnag-Rajouri seat solely to win it by hook or crook. Now they understand that despite the delimitation of the constituency, they lack support in this area, she said.
“They understand that they wouldn’t win this seat in the elections, so they have delayed the elections for the Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary seat. They don’t want to see Mehbooba Mufti in parliament. However, our efforts are focused on ensuring that Mehbooba ji wins the seat by a significant margin,” she added.
Even the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders have threatened the Paharis to support BJP proxies, she claimed.
When asked about the future of the PDP, Iltija said, “We aren’t here for our future; we are here to safeguard the future of the people. If we were only concerned about our own future, we wouldn’t have fought for the people’s future. We could have remained intact like other parties. Mehbooba ji’s party was fragmented because she fought for the rights, identity, and dignity of the people here. And we will continue to fight for these rights.”
She said Mehbooba Mufti’s stature was crafted by the people themselves; otherwise, she would have been like any other ordinary woman. “Mehbooba ji emerged from the people, and her door will always remain open for them,” she added.