Centre has to return Article 370, everything snatched from us: Mehbooba Mufti

Calls for opening of Indo-Pak border routes, says Kashmiri youth preferring gun over jail, militancy on rise in BJP rule

Jammu: People’s Democratic Party President and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti Monday said that militancy has witnessed a sharp rise during BJP rule and youth of Kashmir is preferring to hold gun rather than going to jail.

She also stated that ted that they want 370 back in Jammu and Kashmir and added that BJP will have to return everything snatched from the people of J&K.

Talking to media persons at her party office in Jammu, Mehbooba Mufti according to news agency KNO said that Article 370 and other provisions of special status of Jammu and Kashmir were meant for Muslims of Kashmiris alone but were for entire Jammu and Kashmir and were indeed brought by Maharaja rule to save the Dogra culture.

“We want 370 back and they (BJP) will have to return everything snatched from us on August 5, 2019,” Mehbooba Mufti said.

“The darkness that started here post August 5, 2019 has engulfed Jammu also and people here are too much worried with the sequence of events,” she further said.

In reply to a question, Mehbooba said that present government is following an iron-fist policy and whosoever speaks against them is being pushed to jail.

“It is only because of such highhandedness of Government that youth in Kashmir is preferring to hold gun rather than going in jail forcibly and militancy has also witnessed a rise in BJP rule,” she further said.

In reply to a question related to her controversial remarks over holding national flag, Mehbooba Mufti said that she took oath of both Jammu and Kashmir’s constitution and constitution of India and will hold both flags together.

She further suggested Government of India to learn from foreign policy adopted by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and to restore normalcy on borders with Pakistan where innocent people are drying due to firing.

“I reiterate the slogan of Late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for opening of more and more border routes on Indo-Pak borders.” she said while giving reference of Late. Mufti’s statement for unification of Jammu and Kashmir as well as Pakistan Administered Kashmir besides solution of Kashmir issue,” she said.

She also said that Late. Mufti upheld national flag in Jammu and Kashmir at a time when he was socially boycotted.

While hitting hard over BJP and Government of India with allegations to snatch resources of Jammu and Kashmir, Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that even the sand and clay from rivers of Jammu and Kashmir are being snatched with local people here are getting sand to the cost of twenty one thousand per vehicle and this all is due to anti people policies of ruling unit.

She said that local people of Jammu and Kashmir are not getting place in employment now which is cause of concern and is worrying everyone here in Jammu also.

Regarding PAGDs decision to contest DDC polls unitedly, she said that Congress’s decision to contest polls with PAGD has already been announced by Chairman Dr Farooq Abdullah.

She, however added that modalities of distribution of tickets for DDC polls under PAGD banner are yet to be finalized. (KNO)