Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday stated that voter turnout in ongoing Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir reflected people’s anger against the decisions taken by New Delhi on August 05, 2019, which led to the abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A.
She said people of J&K feel betrayed by such decisions and reiterated “The government of India has to reverse these decisions sooner or later”.
Speaking to reporters during the election campaign in south Kashmir for the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat, Mufti said with the abrogation of Article 370, people of Jammu & Kashmir feel “betrayed by New Delhi”. She said the voter turnout in recently concluded phases of Lok Sabha elections in J&K reflected people’s anger against the decisions of August 05, 2019.
Terming the decision of Article 370 abrogation “unacceptable” to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti said that the Government of India has to reverse such declarations sooner or later.
“Today there is no electricity in J&K, though parts of the country are receiving electricity free of cost; unemployment has broken records and dissent is disallowed. In such a situation there is a need to give mandate to a credible voice who will flag concerns of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the Parliament,” she said.
She said there should have been a joint candidate of PAGD for the Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary segment, but “I tried utmost to keep the unity intact but couldn’t”.
“PDP freed people of Jammu and Kashmir from the clutches of Task Force and Ikhwan. Also, POTA was invalidated. Many colleges and universities were granted to south Kashmir. Thousands of educated youth were roped in under the Rehbr-e-Taleem scheme. Besides, dialogue with Pakistan was started and roads were opened for the larger interest of people dwelling on both sides of borders,” she said.
She added that NC is indulging in discrediting the worth of south Kashmir by importing candidates for Lok Sabha polls. “NC brought a candidate from central Kashmir who has to contest polls here. Was there not anyone deserving here who will fight the election on the Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary seat?” she said.
