Atmosphere of arrests, harassment & fear continue in IIOJK: Mehbooba
PDP chief backs revival of sporting ties between India and Pakistan
Srinagar: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba has launched a scathing attack on Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha’s administration in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, saying that the situation in the territory, especially in the Valley, has worsened since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Mehbooba Mufti addressing an event in Srinagar said, “August 5 marks six years of devastation in Jammu and Kashmir. People had hopes from the Omar Abdullah’s government, but unfortunately, nothing has changed on the ground. The same arrests, same harassment and the same atmosphere of fear continue” .
She expressed deep concern over the plight of Kashmiri youth, stating that thousands have been jailed across various prisons in India. “We have been trying through an Indian Supreme Court lawyer to find out the exact number of Kashmiri youths imprisoned inside and outside J&K, but no information is being shared with us,” she said.
Targeting the administration, Mehbooba said the authorities seem more focused on transfers of Patwaris and BDOs rather than addressing the pressing issues of the territory. “Instead of resolving basic issues like environmental protection and restoring local resources, they are busy elsewhere,” she added.
“There is a sense of suffocation among the people of Kashmir.” Mehbooba said.
Mehbooba Mufti backed revival of sporting ties between India and Pakistan.
“There should be sporting events between India and Pakistan. If you want to live in peace and do not want to spend money on the war, want to overcome unemployment and poverty, and then you have to normalise the situation, and sports are the best thing in achieving this goal,” she advised India and Pakistan.
