Crown of India (J&K) must remain a symbol of dignity, not repression: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti to GoI

”Hurriyat rode horses of guns, stones in 2016, Today BJP rides PSA, UAPA, NIA; Don’t make Indian Muslims face what pandits faced in the ’90s.”

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, APRIL 17 (STC): Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti while calling Jammu and Kashmir the crown of India, has asked the Government of India to allow the region remains a symbol of dignity, not repression. “If you disagree with this, say it clearly. But don’t pretend to embrace Kashmir while closing its doors,” she said.
He also attacked separatist leaders for “closing their doors” in 2016 when efforts for dialogue were initiated. She said, the trajectory of Kashmir could have been different today, if the erstwhile Hurriyat leadership would have not “closed their doors”.
“In 2016, when I brought leaders like Arun Jaitley and the Home Minister to the table for talks, Hurriyat closed the doors. That was the time for dialogue. Had they not slammed the doors, the story of Kashmir would be something else today,” Mehbooba said while addressing party convention at Srinagar.
She took a dig at BJP and stated: “Hurriyat rode horses of stones and guns in 2016, you (BJP) are now riding the horses of UAPA, PSA, NIA, passport cancellations and job terminations. This is just another form of oppression.”
The PDP chief called on the government to take meaningful steps if it truly wanted to win hearts in Jammu and Kashmir. “Free the youth you have jailed without charges. Stop terminating employees. Restore passports. Don’t make peace a slogan—back it with action,” she said.
Referring to the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, she warned the BJP not to repeat that history with Muslims elsewhere in the country. “You have a chance. Don’t make Indian Muslims feel what Pandits felt decades ago. Don’t build fear into their lives,” she said. (STC)