Srinagar, Sep 3 :
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday accused the National Conference (NC) of having no agenda or issue beyond forming a government in Jammu and Kashmir.
“As usual, a party (NC) has emerged to contest elections solely to form a government,” Mehbooba said during a party event in Srinagar.
The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister claimed that NC has no other agenda or issue except to form a government and distribute Ministries.
“I am surprised that this party, which has won 60 to 75 seats from 1947 to 2002, failed to deliver,” she said, adding that her party’s patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, formed a government with just 16 seats and achieved comparable governance.
Mehbooba criticized NC for rigging elections in 1987, leading to turmoil and violence in the region. She also accused NC of forming governments solely for their own interests, raising slogans of “Hindustan Zindabad” when in power and declaring elections “haram” when out of power.
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In contrast, Mehbooba emphasized that the PDP has always contested elections with a clear agenda.
“We formed a government with 16 members, and with Almighty’s will, this time the government will be formed not without PDP’s agenda,” she said.
The PDP leader highlighted her party’s achievements, including revoking POTA, disbanding the Task Force, and resuming talks on the Kashmir issue during their coalition government with Congress. Similarly, during their coalition with the BJP, PDP ensured that Article 370 was not touched and dialogue was resumed.
Mehbooba criticized NC for blaming PDP for forming a government with the BJP, asking Omar Abdullah about his performance during his five-year tenure as a Minister in the BJP government. She also accused Omar of introducing POTA and banning Shahtoosh in Jammu and Kashmir.
The PDP leader emphasized that her party has never compromised on its agenda, even while in coalition with BJP.
She highlighted PDP’s achievements, including revoking FIRs of 12,000 youths, most of whom were booked during the NC regime, and bringing a delegation from across India to the doors of Hurriyat Conference for talks.
Mehbooba also urged the Lieutenant Governor to direct police officers to stop “harassing” youth in Jammu and Kashmir, ensuring free and fair elections.
