Srinagar, November 2: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday blamed the ruling National Conference (NC) for creating mistrust between the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the Centre, addressing a workers' convention in Srinagar to mark the party's Foundation Day, IANS reported.
Source: IANS
Mehbooba said Kashmir could be resolved through dialogue and healing, not coercion. "Kashmir cannot be resolved by using the UAPA, PSA or dismissing employees from service or jailing poor people," she said, in remarks also reported by The Hindu. She called for reopening traditional trade routes to Kashgar, Khotan and Yarkand, similar to the arrangements made in Lipulekh, Uttarakhand.
"This policy of using force will not work. How long can you silence the people here?" she asked, according to The Legitimate News. Her remarks on the UAPA, the PSA and dismissals are her allegations and political claims, made at a party event; the Centre and the NC had not responded to this specific speech in the reports cited here.
Source: The Legitimate News
Attack on the NC
Blaming the NC leadership for what she called burying the demand for autonomy, Mehbooba alleged that the sufferings of Kashmiris during the long years of militancy were also because of that party, and accused it of shifting its stand on Kashmir to suit its pursuit of power. She said her father and PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had set up the party as an alternative political platform and tried to bridge the trust gap between Kashmir and India.
She also questioned what she described as suspicion against Kashmiris, alleging that youngsters are being beaten, Kashmiri officers are being removed from service, and tribals are being evicted — again, her allegations at the convention. She urged the Centre to initiate dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Referring to NC president Farooq Abdullah's recent remarks, Mehbooba said, according to IANS, that a few days ago he had said Pakistan has saved Kashmiris and, in Delhi on Sunday, that Kashmiris will give their last drop of blood for India — which she presented as an example of the NC shifting its stand.