The results of the Jammu and Kashmir local polls have “exposed” the BJP-led central government and prove that people have not forgotten Article 370, former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said today as the Gupkar alliance won big in district council elections. Ms Mufti said the alliance, which includes her People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Farooq Abdullah’s National Conference, could have done much better had it been given a level playing field.
“People have voted en masse for the alliance. It is loud and clear for Delhi to understand that people have not forgotten, Article 370 still lives in our hearts and minds and we will fight for it until our last breath,” the former Chief Minister told NDTV.
She also declared she would not contest any election until the abrogation of Article 370 and the scrapping of special status to Jammu and Kashmir was reversed.
On the possibility of fighting future polls as part of the seven-party alliance and a potential power tussle between rivals National Conference and PDP, she said: “When it comes to assembly polls, I will not file any elections until and unless Jammu and Kashmir’s own constitution is brought back, until Article 370 is restored.” She said she could even move the International Court of Justice, if need be.
“We have been rivals, but for the larger cause of J&K, we can all get together. We are Kashmiris at the end of the day. We are not talking only about elections but for the larger cause of restoring what was lost,” Ms Mufti said.
“Whenever assembly polls are held we will sit together and discuss (on Chief Ministership). I am not in the race.”
Ms Mufti also defended her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s decision to partner with the BJP in 2014, an alliance that collapsed before time, leading to the PDP losing power.
“My father made a deal with the devil. Mufti Sahab did not join hands with (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi but with the Prime Minister of India, to resolve the problems of Kashmir. My father tried to engage the BJP through an alliance. Our agenda was the same and we entered into the alliance on our terms. They agreed to everything, but after the government fell, they did what they wanted,” said Ms Mufti.
