Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Mar 3: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today criticized Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s address at the first Budget Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, saying it failed to reflect the concerns of the people or the vision of an elected Government.
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Speaking at a press conference in Srinagar, Mufti said the speech did not acknowledge the “disempowerment and alienation” of the people. “This address was no different from his previous speeches on Independence Day or other ceremonial occasions,” she added.
The PDP president also pointed out that while Union Home Minister Amit Shah had assured Parliament of restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, the real issue remained the abrogation of Article 370. “The issue is not just about statehood; it is about restoring dignity and the special status that was unilaterally taken away in August 2019,” she said.
Criticizing the National Conference (NC), Mufti accused Omar Abdullah’s party of functioning as an extension of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jammu and Kashmir. She alleged that instead of resisting the BJP’s policies, the NC was actively legitimizing the Central Government’s decisions, including the revocation of Article 370.
“It is unfortunate that the BJP’s policies, which we have consistently opposed as unconstitutional and against the interests of Jammu and Kashmir, are now being endorsed in one way or another by the National Conference. Rather than challenging these actions, NC leaders appear to be in a race to validate the drastic changes imposed over the past few years,” she said.
Taking a direct swipe at the Chief Minister, Mufti criticized his lack of assertiveness on critical issues. Mufti further pointed out that the BJP had long advocated for the revocation of Article 370. “Omar Abdullah says he cannot get Article 370 back from the BJP. But if the BJP could talk about abrogating it for 70 years, why can’t you at least speak out against this unconstitutional move? Why this silence?” she questioned.
She emphasized that voters had placed their hopes in the NC-led Government, expecting it to take a firm stand on issues such as disempowerment, land rights, resource exploitation, and employment. “People did not expect miracles from the NC within four months, but they did hope for a strong voice in their favour. Unfortunately, this Government has failed to even highlight these critical issues,” she said.
The PDP chief also underscored that beyond the fight for Article 370 and statehood, Jammu and Kashmir faced numerous challenges, including job insecurity, land ownership concerns, and the unchecked extraction of local minerals. “We have introduced several bills addressing these issues and expect all political parties to show unity in tackling the pressing challenges facing the region,” she added.
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