Till Article 370 is not restored, no shoulder in J&K will carry tri-color: Mehbooba Mufti

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti Friday put forth a clear cut message to New Delhi, saying till our flag is not restored and decisions taken by New Delhi on August 5, 2019, are not revoked, New Delhi will found no shoulder to carry its flag in Jammu and Kashmir. She added youth of J&K has sacrificed immensely for the resolution of the Kashmir issue and now it is the time for leadership to give blood for lasting peace in the region if the need arises.
Addressing a maiden press conference at her Gupkar Residence in Srinagar after Central Government abolished Article 370 and 35(A) on August 5, 2019, Mehbooba vehemently condemned the abrogation of Article 370 by Modi led BJP Government. “August 5 decisions were dacoit by BJP in J&K which were taken illegally and without consultations with real stakeholders. BJP committed a big blunder on that day. They violated their own constitution. They have no right to snatch special status of Jammu and Kashmir”, she said.
While issuing a clear warning to New Delhi, the PDP chief said that BJP should come out of this thought that J&K will remain without Article 370 forever. “People of J&K are shell-shocked. They look disappointed. But I want to clear myself here that till our flag is not restored and decisions taken by New Delhi on August 5 are not revoked, there will no shoulder in J&K to carry tri-color”, Mehbooba said.
She thanked mainstream political leaders including Dr. Farooq, Omar Abdullah, Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami, Sajad Gani Lone, and others besides party workers for enquiring her after her release from 14-months long detention.
“I met with the workers of my party soon after my release. They are by heart with Late Mufti’s vision. I marked the disappointment on their face. They are shell-shocked”, she said.
About the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, the PDP chief said that all political parties sat and deliberated upon the nefarious designs of New Delhi. “We formed Gupkar Declaration headed by Dr. Farooq Abdullah and resolved that all rights will be brought back snatched by New Delhi on August 5, 2019”.
At the occasion, Mehbooba sought full cooperation from the media and the general public in the struggle taken up for the restoration of Article 370. “The way media raked up public concern on abrogation of Article 370 was praiseworthy. Few media personnel were summoned to Cargo for questioned and harassment, even FIRs were lodged against a few for taking up people’s voice. We need to unite so that we will contest challenges of New Delhi”, She said.
Lashing out at few national media outlets, the PDP chief alleged that some media institutions of New Delhi have started “fake TRP” actions aimed to denigrate the image of Jammu and Kashmir and its people who have been suppressed forcibly by the BJP Government.
She alleged that BJP has destroyed the constitution of its own country by replacing it with the party’s anti-people agenda. “They passed the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), acted against farmers and minorities and are trying to replace the constitution of the country by party’s anti-people agenda”, She said.
Without naming UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, the PDP chief said that BJP has nothing to show in their progress card and is playing the Kashmir card for divisive politics.
Giving hint to New Delhi to shun its muscular approach in Kashmir, Mehbooba said that I want to convey to New Delhi this fact that Kashmir is an issue. “If BJP will keep its eyes closed, it can’t change reality” she, said.
Mehbooba said that nobody is safe in India especially Muslims and Dalits who have been harassed and subjugated. “We are incompatible with today’s India as nobody is feeling safe within. Muslims and Dalits especially are being harassed continuously”, she said.
When asked whether she will contest polls in the future, the PDP chief said “I have no interest in elections until our constitution is restored, I will not go for elections”.
When asked why PDP paved the way to BJP in Jammu and Kashmir that led to the abrogation of Article 370, Mehbooba said that it was not the alliance with BJP that led to the abrogation of Article 370 as everything was done from the Parliament. “It was the Parliament that was misused. Parliament has no right to do this. We stood like a wall for Article 370”, she added.
Asked whether she has any regret of forging an alliance with BJP, Mehbooba said she regrets posing faith in the leader from the party who has demolished the constitution of the country.
When asked about the Indo-China border conflict, she said that China has reportedly grabbed 1000 square kilometers in Ladakh because the abrogation of Article 370 pushed them to do so, adding “Decisions taken on August 5, 2019, internationalized Kashmir issue”.
To a query about Geelani’s refusal to talk with All Party Delegation a few years back, Mehbooba said the refusal to meet the delegation led to the huge losses, adding that the delegation was not from the BJP leaders. “Geelani’s refusal brought a bad name to J&K across the country. If he was not willing to talk, he should have at least allowed them to enter into his house”, PDP chief said.