Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 13: Former Chief Minister and president of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti today accused Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) of using agencies to harass people in Jammu and Kashmir.
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While addressing a gathering of party workers at her residence, Mehbooba said: “When Pulwama incident occurred, over 40 jawans lost their lives, a discussion started with the phrase we shall invade their houses and kill them started to circulate. I am unsure if they killed anyone in Balakote, but in Jammu and Kashmir, they have been entering our homes using various agencies like the NIA, ED, CBI, and any other agencies, harassing our people. Our people now find it challenging to leave their houses,” she said.
She said people are victims of injustice in J&K. “I have not witnessed a scenario like this, and I am confident that neither have our elders since 1947. In particular, since 2019, there has been a fresh wave of tyranny that shows no signs of abating. In one way or another, people are the victims of injustice,” she said.
“For us, the Amarnath yatra used to be a joyful occasion. When I was a child, I recall that we used to wait for the yatra so that we could travel to Pahalgam and visit the Sadhus who sat by the fire in the evening. However, they have now made this yatra risky for us. This was the epitome of Muslim-Hindu harmony. It would also benefit our economy and low-wage workers,” she said.
The PDP president accused BJP of turning religious pilgrimage to a political weapon. “However, the BJP has changed this yatra from a religious pilgrimage to a political weapon. Today, as if they want to annex Jammu and Kashmir without pausing to look to the right or left. In Anantnag recently, a new born died because the family’s vehicle was not permitted to move forward. The Yatra has also caused hardship for the people, particularly those from South Kashmir. Since the ecology in the area only allows for 5000 visits per day, they have made things difficult by allowing more yatris to access the cave,” she said.
“They let thousands of people go there, which led to deaths from the cloudburst. We haven’t heard anything yet since they’re lying when they say 15 to 16 people were killed; nevertheless, based on the way people are still missing and the way we’re seeing horse carcasses, it appears the actual death toll is higher,” she added.
“They were so obstinate that it appeared as though they were here to capture Jammu and Kashmir rather than welcome our guests or yatris. When a similar incident occurred in the past, a committee was established, and it was recommended that, due to the sensitive nature of the environment, no more than 5000–6000 devotees visit the cave. Only one lakh individuals should be permitted to participate in the pilgrimage, and the yatra should not be longer than one month,” she added.
Mehbooba accused the BJP of rejecting the conditions under which J&K joined the nation. “But they have been doing the opposite as they believe this place belongs to someone else. They reject the conditions under which we joined this nation and treat us as though this territory belonged to someone else. We cannot remain silent and accept what has happened,” she said.
The former Chief Minister asked people to fight back otherwise they are going to lose everything.
“If we keep on thinking that way, we will lose our identity. We are currently losing our land. Part of it is going to the military, and some of it is going to industry. People from outside are granted jobs here while we lose our jobs. What is left for us to do? We only have our own characteristics, such as our language and the fact that some girls wear headscarves and men maintain beards. If we don’t fight back this time, we risk losing who we are. And there will be a time when people will forget Kashmiris,” she said.
“Jammu and Kashmir’s borders are the scenes of wars, but some borders, like the Wagah border, are chosen for commercial purposes. Our modest business has been disparaged and shut down. Drugs worth billions are now discovered on Gujarati ships, and nobody is doing anything to stop it,” she said.
She accused Government of using military might to silence the voices of people of J&K. “For this, we must struggle. 100–150 lads, a relatively modest number, have taken up arms. They have kept the 10 lakh security officers on duty to silence our voices because they do not want the people to raise their voices. They are afraid that the oppressed people would speak out against them,” she added.
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