In Indian occupied Kashmir, a few days before the first year completing of abrogation of Article 370, Iltija Mufti, daughter of former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, said People Democratic Party (PDP) will not give up on the demand of Kashmir special status, including Article 370 and 35A.
Iltija Mufti’s remark came during an exclusive conversation with India Today TV. “If political parties in Jammu and Kashmir don’t fight for statehood, Article 370 and 35A, they will lose legitimacy,” said Iltija Mufti.
Mufti highlighted that things have got worse in Jammu and Kashmir since the central government abrogated Article 370, stripping Jammu and Kashmir of its special status.
“Since the past one year in Kashmir, there is only an increased paramilitary presence, more barricades. People’s voices have been stifled. People have been slapped with UAPA even if they crack a joke,” she said.
She also called upon all mainstream parties to fight against the current government over issues like Article 370. “If mainstream parties do not fight for this, they will lose credibility,” Mufti said.
Iltija Mufti questioned why her mother Mehbooba Mufti has not been released from detention yet. She was detained along with many other Jammu and Kashmir leaders after Article 370 was abrogated on August 5, 2019.
While most of the leaders have been released from detention, Mufti and a few others continue to remain under house arrest.
Iltija Mufti also spoke about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ayodhya and said that it sends a wrong message. According to her, the move is a diversion tactic to avoid other issues like economic slowdown, rising inflation and unemployment.