Mehbooba Mufti said that if New Delhi wishes for her exclusion from the elections, they should openly address the issue.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti expressed strong opposition after a bunch of parties, including the BJP, wrote to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to defer elections for the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat, for which she recently filed nomination papers last week.
During a press conference in the Surankote area of Poonch, Mehbooba voiced her dismay over the ECI”s recent directive, which she deemed surprising, especially considering that certain political entities, which she alleged are influenced by the BJP, advocated for the postponement of election in the Anantnag-Rajouri seat.
“The ECI order to the J&K administration (to assess accessibility in Anantnag-Rajouri) has shocked me. It’s after a long time that the people of J&K have reposed faith in democracy. This government has snatched everything. Don’t snatch the ballots too. Don’t repeat 1987, which left Kashmir burning, filled graveyards and impacted generations,” Mufti said.
The EC on Thursday, in a notification, stated that Imran Reza Ansari (JK Peoples Conference), Ravinder Raina (BJP J&K), Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari (Apni Party), J&K Nationalist People’s Front, Apni Party, Advocate Mohammad Saleem Parray, Ali Mohammad Wani, Arsheed Ali Lone, requested to reschedule the poll date in this seat.
Mehbooba expressed deep concern over this demand, warning of potential repercussions should the poll schedule be altered. She called upon the NDA government and the ECI to abstain from actions that could undermine the confidence of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the electoral process, particularly given their renewed engagement since August 2019.
“I want to convey to the BJP and ECI that the people of J&K have once again shown confidence in the electoral process. I want to tell them that any misadventure will create a bad impression. What have you left for the people of J&K? Everything has been snatched. Do you want to repeat 1987, owing to which Kashmir has been burning since?” she said.
Mehbooba spoke about the financial strain faced by the PDP, noting its limited resources and the personal sacrifices made by its workers who are funding the campaign from their own pockets. She highlighted the impracticality of shouldering the burden of a poll deferment under such circumstances. Urging transparency, she asked the EC to state the reasons behind the proposed deferment. She also stated that if New Delhi wishes for her exclusion from the elections, they should openly address the issue.
