Mehbooba slams NC for endorsing Modi’s illegal actions in IIOJK
Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti has criticized the National Conference (NC) for what she said legitimizing illegal and unconstitutional actions taken by New Delhi-appointed Lieutenant Governor in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, addressing the media in Srinagar, Mehbooba also criticized Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for not standing up for the people of the occupied territory.
She said, “The issues we used to raise our voices against—those that are unconstitutional—are now being endorsed by the NC. Omar Abdullah says he doesn’t want to be Arvind Kejriwal, but no one is asking him to be. He should at least stand up for his people. What did people vote for him for?”
She also denounced the revocation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, calling it “illegal and unconstitutional,” and slammed the Modi-led Indian government for making empty promises. “From that day, [Indian] Home Minister spoke about statehood on the floor of the House, and Lieutenant Governor and minister since then has repeated the same promise. But the issues of [occupied] Jammu and Kashmir go beyond just statehood,” she added.
Mehbooba said that the BJP’s policies on IIOJK have been extended into the governance of the region. “What we earlier called illegal and unconstitutional, we are now being made to accept. The disempowerment that has happened post-2019 is not even being addressed,” she said.
Urging Omar Abdullah to take a stand, she remarked, “No one is asking you to be Kejriwal, but at least stand for the dignity and rights of your people. Being a Chief Minister is fine, but what is the purpose if you don’t fight for those who voted for you?”.
