Mehbooba Mufti extends support to CJP protesters in New Delhi
New Delhi: Kashmiri politician and President of Peoples Democratic Party Mehbooba Mufti has expressed her support for the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demonstrating against irregularities in examinations and described the agitation as a fight to safeguard the Constitution and democracy.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Mehbooba Mufti addressing the protesters at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi praised the youth for enduring harsh weather conditions while demanding justice and transparency in the examination process, saying their struggle would discourage corruption, paper leaks and other injustices.
The protesters led by the CJP have been camping at the Jantar Mantar for the last month demanding accountability over the NEET paper leak and resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, among others.
“I salute you all. When I saw on July 20 that some rioters, along with the police, were beating up the protesting youth, even tearing the clothes of our daughters, I said enough is enough, I must go (to Delhi),” she said while addressing the protesters.
Calling it a defining moment for the youth, Mehbooba said that the people witnessed increasing incidents of “divide and rule” politics, exam paper leaks, corruption and crimes against women over the past several years.
Sometimes ‘chanda chori’ (donations theft), sometimes paper leaks, sometimes rapes. Even cows are safer than children in India today,” she said.
The PDP chief also criticised the Indian judiciary and the government claiming that the concerns of the protesting students did not receive adequate attention despite their prolonged agitation.
Referring to the Chief Justice of India’s refusal to watch videos of the July 20 violence in Delhi, Mehbooba said, “He said he won’t watch the videos as he doesn’t have time. Why do they not have time? Because they have to go to the Rajya Sabha, because they have to become governors. That is why they don’t have time for these young people, and that is why I am here.”
Calling for a change, Mehbooba said, “These people (youth) will bring it. If we need to save the Constitution, these people will do it.” She also said that many parents spend lakhs of their hard-earned money to educate their children, and if the youth do not stand up against injustice today, the country will face serious consequences.
Mehbooba also warned that if the Constitution is not saved today, those at the helm of affairs will turn the rest of the country into an “open jail”, drawing a parallel to Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
However, she expressed hope that the protesting youth will not bow down, and said the government should also refrain from messing with them as they are the “biggest power”.
