Mehbooba Mufti promises to lift ban on separatist groups if voted to power

Srinagar : Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said she would get the ban on Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and the local Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) lifted if voted to power.

Addressing a convention of PDP workers in north Kashmir's Baramulla, Mufti said banning organisations, like the JKLF and the JeI, would have far reaching consequences and such measures would increase the alienation and frustration of the people.

"In a democracy, ideas are allowed to flourish and not choked. By taking such undemocratic, unconstitutional and unnatural measures, the government is trying to show its electorate how tough it is against the Muslims and against Jammu and Kashmir.

"If our party is voted to power, we will make efforts to undo the BJP's wrongs and lift the ban imposed on the JeI and the JKLF," said the former J&K Chief Minister.

She said a muscular approach had been tried in the state for many years without any positive results.