Srinagar, Apr 25: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said she will become “a voice of the voiceless” in Jammu and Kashmir and will raise every issue in parliament.
Addressing an election rally at Eidgah Surankote in Rajouri district, she said, “The rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir are being taken away from us, lands are being grabbed and electricity is being sold to us at high prices.”
“I did not come here to divide people on the name of religion, community or caste. We should remain united to defeat the nefarious designs of people who are dividing people in the name of religion, Mufti said. “I will become the voice of the voiceless, speak to the power and represent the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the parliament.”
The former chief minister said J&K is facing multiple issues and the need is to fight back together. She said since 2019, there has been a growing fear and uncertainty among the people of J&K about their rights, resources and future. “The state subject laws were changed, leading to the looting of resources, including electricity and lithium, which are being given to outsiders,” she alleged.
“It is time to raise our voice in Parliament. Our manifesto revolves around the same issues,” Mehbooba said.
The PDP president reiterated that there is a scam in jobs, saying that instead of creating jobs, people are being dismissed from services. “People of Kashmir are in jails outside without any crime, lying in jails, and no one is talking about it. The tribal community is being evicted from their own land and harassed. The backbone of Kashmir, the horticulture sector, is facing issues due to the unfavourable decisions of the government,” she said.
Mufti alleged that traders and transporters are being harassed and threatened by agencies like ED, income tax and NIA. “People are not being provided with passports, and even for NOC, people are being harassed,” she said.
“These things have been happening for the past five years, and the Government of India is making efforts to silence the people here, who remain as dead people. But, PDP has not been silent, and we have raised our voices against it. Though we have had to pay the price for raising our voice,” she said.
