Mehbooba questions targeting innocent families through bulldozer campaign
Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti has questioned the bulldozer action in the garb of so-called anti-drug campaign, saying the drive is being used as an excuse to economically and socially weaken Kashmiri families.
According to Kashmir Media Service, addressing a party convention in Budgam, Mehbooba Mufti said innocent family members are being punished through demolition of their homes. She said the authorities are destroying houses without considering the suffering of women, children and other relatives living there.
She said those involved in the drug trade should be jailed, but questioned why police officials releasing such suspects after taking bribes were not being held accountable. She termed the demolition drive unjust and said the bulldozer policy was creating fear and insecurity among the people of the territory.
Criticising IIOJK Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba said the people had voted for his party with the expectation that it would protect them from coercive policies. She remarked that if people had supported the “bulldozer model”, they would not have elected his government.
Referring to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and his participation in the “Nasha Mukt J-K Abhiyaan” event in Islamabad district, she said that government employees, teachers and students, including women and girls, were directed to report at the venue early in the morning.
While describing the anti-drug campaign as a positive initiative, she said forcing people to wait for hours amounted to excess and unnecessary hardship.
The PDP leader also accused the administration of widespread corruption and political favoritism in recruitment, saying deserving Kashmiri youth were being denied opportunities while influential individuals continued to receive preferential treatment.
