Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti (File photo)
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday alleged that the seven years of BJP has left Jammu and Kashmir 'destroyed'. She further added that the saffron rule has only brought misery to the people and accused the BJP of playing politics over issues of Taliban, Afghanistan and Pakistan to garner votes. The former Chief Minister was addressing a rally organized by the youth wing of her party in Jammu.
Under the BJP rule, it is not Hindus but democracy and India which are in danger, she alleged. The seven years have further undone all the "good work" of the past years of Congress. The BJP has started selling national resources and raising the prices of essentials to fill its reserves to buy or intimidate opposition legislators, she accused.
Referring to her critics, she noted that despite the ongoing farmers' protests, inflation and other issues of public importance, the mere mention of Taliban or her party's vision for self-rule makes her anti-national and triggers debates and discussions.
"Jammu and Kashmir is in trouble and so is the entire country...they say Hindus are in danger but they are not in danger and in fact it is India and the democracy which are in danger because of them (BJP)," Mehbooba said.
She further slammed that the saffron party would start cashing in on the Taliban and Afghanistan in the upcoming polls. If that fails, they will bring Pakistan and drones into the picture.
Mufti reached Jammu late on Saturday after a five-day tour of Poonch and Rajouri districts. She also faced a small protest by the Rashtriya Bajrang Dal near Dogra chowk in the city. The protestors attempted to stop her cavalcade but were prevented by the police.
"They will not talk about China which has intruded into Ladakh because they do not get votes by talking about that country. If you want to frighten people, talk about Taliban, Afghanistan and Pakistan and do something here and there and seek votes," she said.
Referring to the upcoming assembly elections in UP, Mufti slammed that Yogi Adityanath had failed to provide jobs, roads and schools. She also added that the Ganga river, deemed sacred by the people of the country, was turned into a dumping ground for corpses who died of COVID as people did not even have money to conduct the last rites of their near and dear.
"...They do not have anything to sell to the people, and therefore they will use Pakistan and J-K to garner votes. They have destroyed J-K and are using sticks to oppress the people who are not allowed to speak openly for their rights," she said.
Accusing the BJP of watching what she is saying to trigger a debate, she said, "The farmers" agitation, growing unemployment, inflation and other issues facing the country should have been the focus of our debates but there is no discussion on these important issues. Since the elections in UP are drawing closer, there will be more discussion on Taliban and Afghanistan."
She also accused the saffron party of using crores for self-projection and taxing people by hiking fuel prices and using the money to "buy MLAs of other parties and use government agencies to intimidate those who reject its offer".
Even as there are debates on the oppressive measures of the Taliban against women in Afghanistan, nobody is talking of the women in India who are facing rapes and dowry deaths, she noted.
"I know unemployment is such that we cannot provide jobs to everyone. Mufti had a plan to address this problem, but if I name the plan which is self-rule, I will be dubbed as anti-national and it will trigger debates and discussions," she said.
Explaining self-rule, she said Jammu and Kashmir is holding a strategic position and can be a gateway to central Asia if all the traditional cross-border routes are opened, and all the neighbouring countries are allowed to open bank branches which will generate employment. She further added that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have lost all hope in the government after they abrogated the protective shield that is Article 370. The Muslim majority state would have never joined India during partition if the BJP was at the helm of it, she added.
"During our recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, I told him that you have destroyed J-K where nobody is allowed to speak openly. The problem is now the same everywhere in the country, where activists and actors like Sonu Sood who does a wonderful job during lockdown crises are facing enforcement directorate raids," Mehbooba said.
Referring to the one-day strike called by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jammu for September 22 against attempts to destroy local trade by allowing big corporate chains to open outlets, Mufti said that this is the fallout of the abrogation of article 370 and the people of Jammu have understood it.