Unlike BJP, Nehru would unfurl Tricolour in Srinagar without security cover: Mehbooba Mufti

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on July 31, 2023 said the achievement of the current dispensation can be gauged from the fact that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru would unfurl the Tricolour in Srinagar without any security cover in 1949 but this regime needs elaborate security arrangements for it.

Addressing the party’s 24th foundation day in Srinagar, Ms. Mufti took on the Centre for its decisions onJammu and Kashmir in 2019. “What did the BJP achieve by doing away with the special constitutional provisions? Jawaharlal Nehru came to Lal Chowk and unfurled the Tricolour along with thousands of Kashmiris. Today, you [the BJP] hoist the Tricolour with an elaborate security cover. No Kashmiri could be seen,” Ms. Mufti said.

Elaborating on the ideology of party founder Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, Ms. Mufti said her father always wanted to work towards a solution to the Kashmir problem. “All solutions are possible within the sphere of humanity. What the BJP is doing in Manipur is not the way forward,” the former J&K Chief Minister said.

Ms. Mufti said her father firmly believed that J&K’s future was with India and did not believe in leading the people astray. “Mufti sahib’s first term as Chief Minister saw significant progress, both on account of reconciliation and development. The Advani-Hurriyat talks were held, the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road was reopened and development work was taken to a new level,” she said.

Ms. Mufti said the BJP was trying to convert the entire country into Manipur. “I appeal to the Opposition parties to stay united to counter such attempts. Manipur is just a trailer. The film is yet to start,” Ms. Mufti, while referring to the deaths in Manipur, said.

She also criticised the recent move of the Centre to reserve two seats for Kashmiri Pandits in the J&K Assembly. “If you have the courage, you should reserve the seats. We will vote for them just like we have done in the past. Constituencies with a Muslim population have elected P. L. Handoo, M. L. Fotedar, Manohar Koul, D.P. Dhar etc. Why no reservation for Sikhs? This is because you cannot do Hindu-Muslim [politics] if you give reservations to Sikhs,” Ms. Mufti said.