Srinagar Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said that the main purpose of the party to seek votes in the Lok Sabha election is to tell the country through Parliament that what BJP has done to them in 2019 (abrogation of Article 370) which is not acceptable to us.
Mufti was addressing a rally in Pulwama in support of the party’s candidate for the Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency, Waheed Para.
She said Para’s candidacy is crucial in representing the voice of the people in Parliament amidst the ongoing political crisis in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The main purpose of the PDP to seek votes is to tell the country through parliament that what BJP has done to us in 2019 ( when J&K’s special status was scrapped) is not acceptable to us. The unilateral decisions, stifling of just voices and erosion of constitutional guarantees are unacceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We will tell this to the people of the country in parliament. This is the reason why attempts to divide our votes must be foiled,” the PDP President said.
Para is eminently qualified to represent the voices besides being able to maintain connection with the roots that he had developed as the party’s youth leader since inception, she said.
The former Chief Minister highlighted a grim picture of the current state of affairs in Jammu and Kashmir, lamenting the transformation of the erstwhile state into an “open-air prison.”
She highlighted the plight of the people, with youth languishing in jails in different states and unemployment rates soaring.
Mufti launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing them of seeking to strip away the rights and resources of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, pushing them towards a state of bonded labour.
She said the present time is a testing time.
“Not stone or gun- vote is our only weapon and we must use it now to give befitting reply to the elements who are out there to besiege our conscience and identity,” Mehbooba said in her address.
The PDP Chief also urged people to unite against attempts by Delhi to divide their votes, emphasizing Para as the most suitable candidate to represent their interests in parliament.
