Rajouri/Jammu: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday criticised the Election Commission of India (ECI) for deferring the polls on the Anantnag-Rajouri seat, accusing the Jammu and Kashmir administration of filing a “wrong” report to justify the postponement of the elections.
Lok Sabha elections in the redrawn Anantnag-Rajouri constituency was slated for May 07. However, the ECI rescheduled it for May 25 after receiving representations from several parties.
Mufti, who is the PDP candidate from the constituency, said these elections are a reply of the people to the government of India that the decision taken by them to abrogate Article 370 and bifurcate the state into two Union territories is not acceptable to them.
“They (ECI) extended the election date, making it difficult for me (to campaign). The poor (party) workers are paying from their pockets and campaigning for us. Now they will have to work for 25 more days,” Mufti told the people during a roadshow on the outskirts of Rajouri.
The PDP president, on the campaign trail in the Rajouri-Poonch belt which is a part of the Anantnag-Rajouri seat, questioned the officials, alleging they have not revealed why they delayed the polls.
“We want to know the reason. Are these officers also in league with the ECI? We want to know. They have given a wrong report (to ECI),” she added.
Hitting out at the BJP for “instilling” fear among the electorate, she said, “In a video which went viral yesterday, one BJP leader was seen threatening the people that if you do not vote for a proxy candidate, the situation will become similar to what it was in 1947.”
She said looking at the enthusiasm of the people in the constituency, she has full confidence that they will come out to vote for her on May 25. She will come to hear their problems in the future, but at present she needs their support to ensure that she reaches Parliament to raise their voice, she said.
Mufti emphasised the significance of the current election, saying, “It is not meant for power or roads. It is about the decision taken in 2019, which we believe was wrong.”
This election is against the central government’s decision and sends a clear message that the decision (to abrogate Article 370 and bifurcate the state into two Union territories) taken by it has not been accepted by the people, she added.
“Our identity, our land, our jobs, our sand — they want to snatch away everything from us. The Jammu and Kashmir people will not accept that.
“I am here to seek votes from you. Mufti Sayeed had a deep connection with this region. In keeping with that relation, you vote for me,” she added.
Responding to queries about contesting from Srinagar instead of the current seat which covers widespread and far-flung areas, she said her father and former chief minister Sayeed and she have a deep love for the region.
She said her relationship with the people of the region began when the situation there was very bad.
“I visited Thanamandi when there was a fire. The people had fled their homes. I want you to vote for me and bring victory.”
Mian Altaf is the main contestant fielded against Mufti in Anantnag-Rajouri constituency.
Besides Mehbooba Mufti and Mian Altaf, prominent among 18 other candidates in the fray include Mohammad Saleem Parray of Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) and J&K Apni Party leader Zafar Iqbal Khan Manhas.
Meanwhile, Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter Iltija Mufti also claimed the two-week deferment was done “at the behest of BJP to influence the voters and benefit its proxy candidate.”
Iltija Mufti, who was appointed as media adviser to her mother in August last year, also said “it is very sad that the BJP is co-opting institutions like the judiciary and Election Commission of India”.
Talking to PTI videos, she said the people will lose faith in democracy because of this decision of the Election Commission. “This seat does not belong to BJP because people from all communities are with Mehbooba Mufti. They are insecure and do not want a strong voice like my mother to reach Parliament.”
Though the BJP is not contesting from the seat, its leaders in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri are campaigning in favour of Manhas.
“This is a conspiracy to undermine the very idea of democracy. The gerrymandering, the delimitation exercise, all this was done because BJP wanted this seat. Just a few hours before the announcement by the Election Commission, some BJP leaders gave communal statements and even threatened Paharis that if they do not vote for the proxy parties of BJP, a communal situation like that of 1947 will be created to disturb the peace,” the PDP leader said.
Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina on Tuesday expelled a senior party leader for “hate speech” and “using unparliamentary language” during an election meeting in Poonch district.
Raina ordered expulsion of district spokesperson, Poonch, Satish Bhargav from the primary membership of the party for a period of six years for “gross indiscipline”.
“For the people of Jammu and Kashmir, it is an unpleasant experience because it takes them back to 1987 elections (when the assembly polls were rigged leading to eruption of militancy). The only difference is rigging happened on the election day that year and today it is being done even before the voting process has started here,” Iltija Mufti claimed.
She said her party has already written to the EC but they have “closed their eyes to everything.”
Raising a question over EC’s decision, she said who were the officers who submitted the report for postponement of elections? “Was the report for or against the postponement? If it was for the postponement, then the local administration is hand in gloves with the Centre.”
Continuing her tirade against the EC, she said it is making excuses of weather and not giving any proper explanation “but the truth is the BJP is helping its proxy parties in Kashmir”.
“They (BJP) were never confident of their win and that was the reason why they did not even nominate their candidates,” Iltija Mufti said.
“By betraying people and their trust in democracy, they want to influence the mandate but that will not happen. The extra time that we have got now, we will make sure that Mehbooba Mufti wins the seat with a bigger margin now,” she said.
She alleged that it was a conspiracy to weaken the regional parties, especially the PDP.
“Jammu and Kashmir has become a laboratory since 2019. You tried your best to weaken the PDP and when that did not happen, you tried to create new parties but I must tell you that people have no liking for them. Also, they do not have faith in these parties,” she said, accusing the BJP of dividing the people on the basis of religion.
