PDP chief accuses NC of having truck with BJP
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Apr 17: President of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti today accused the ruling National Conference (NC) of having truck with the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and said that she is not surprised with the revelation of made by ex-RAW chief AS Dulat about NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah.
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Mufti told reporters here that there is nothing new in Dulat’s book as the NC leaders were holding late-night meetings offering support for Government formation in Jammu and Kashmir way back in 2014.
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“Look, Dulat is like a family to the National Conference. In his book, he wrote that Farooq had consulted him about the removal of Article 370. In fact, he went as far as to say that Farooq was willing to remove it through the Assembly,” she said.
“Dulat’s revelations are nothing new for me. This father-son duo (Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah) went to meet them (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) on August 3 (2019). Farooq did not even go to Parliament (on August 5, 2019). He stayed back. So, there is nothing surprising for me,” she said.
“This isn’t the first time. Back in 2014, the National Conference and Omar Abdullah met Amit Shah secretly at night to form a Government-without any conditions-just to avoid forming one with the PDP. This isn’t something new,” she added.
Mufti said that Muslims case in the Waqf Act is very strong but expressed apprehension due to past experience.
“When the Babri Masjid verdict came, there was no solid evidence. Similarly, when Afzal Guru was sentenced, there was no evidence either. Yet the Supreme Court said the decision was made to satisfy the collective conscience of the nation. Today, millions of Muslims have strong emotional ties to the Waqf Bill, and this time, there is evidence. Our case is very strong,” she said.
“The PDP has also submitted a bill. We hope that, keeping in mind the collective conscience, the Supreme Court will strike down the amendments made to the Waqf Bill,” she hoped.
Mufti questioned the peace in Kashmir saying that if it could be disturbed by simple protests “what kind of peace is it?”
“We wanted to protest against the Waqf Bill. We wanted to protest in support of Palestine. But we were not allowed to do so. If Kashmir’s peace can be disturbed by a simple protest, then what kind of peace is this? It shows the true situation here,” she said.
“Gaza and Palestine are being bombed. Millions have been affected, and countless civilians, including workers, have been killed. Since October 2023, we have witnessed a series of massacres. We wanted to protest, but we were told doing so would disturb the peace in Jammu and Kashmir. What kind of peace is so fragile that a peaceful protest can shake it? We are not allowed to protest; all we can do is pray,” she said.
The PDP said that India under the BJP rule has changed with Muslims facing injustice. “Muslims are facing injustice around the world. If there was one country where Muslims felt safe 10 years ago, it was India. But today’s India is not the India of Gandhi or Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. It is the India of Godse,” she added.
“I want to address the people of Delhi and the BJP. You speak of humanity, but India does not belong to Godse. Nor does it belong to the Mughals. It belongs to the Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians who fought together for its freedom-people like Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Ashfaqullah who were martyred,” she said.
“You speak of the Mughals and start digging up graves, but the true legacy of the Mughals lies in monuments like the Taj Mahal, Red Fort and Qutub Minar, visited by millions. If you want to find their heirs, don’t look among poor Muslims. Look to your own elites. The Mughals aligned with rulers, not the poor”.
Mufti said that the BJP Government said that Waqf was meant for development but after its passage even the dead face harassment in cemeteries.
“You bring in the Waqf Bill after demolishing Muslim homes and shops. You claim it’s for development-but what development involves destroying 30-year-old madrasas in Madhya Pradesh or century-old mosques in Uttar Pradesh? Even the dead face harassment in cemeteries.”
“If you truly want to develop, learn from Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who transformed Waqf properties into institutions like Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University and nursing colleges in Kishtwar and Shopian”.
The PDP chief urged Muslims to protest peacefully. “I urge my Muslim brothers: if you want to protest, do it peacefully. Don’t give those who want to defame Muslims a chance. Leaders like Mamata Banerjee, Stalin, and Siddaramaiah stand with you. Don’t weaken their support. If you take out a rally, ensure no violence”, she said.
Mufti warned of the threat to survival to the country if the bonds between communities are broken.
“To the BJP: India is not a part of Kashmir-Kashmir is a part of India, an India that belongs to all faiths. Don’t treat Kashmir like the Mughals or like you treated Bilkis Bano in Gujarat. If you break the bonds between communities, the country cannot survive”.
“We, the 240 million Muslims of India, have held the hand of this country-don’t hurt that hand. If you want progress, look forward, not backward. Stop digging graves and start building trust.”
“As far as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, we just spoke about Dulat. I wasn’t surprised. Since 1947, the National Conference has deceived Kashmiris to win votes in Delhi, and deceived Delhi to win votes in Kashmir. This is how it works. Dulat quoted Farooq as saying, ‘Why didn’t they consult me? I would have passed the abrogation of Article 370 in Parliament.’ That is no news to me-this is how it works.”
“Devender Rana also said that when the BJP and PDP were working to form a Government, Omar Abdullah had met Amit Shah four times to form a Government with BJP that too unconditionally. I am witness to this-talks went on for two months, and several people told me the NC was ready to join without any conditions. But Mufti did not budge. He said, ‘Unless you accept my conditions, I won’t move.’ This is how it works.”
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