Identity of people of J&K was illegally snatched: Mehbooba Mufti

Ground Report | New Delhi: Identity of people of J&K Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday said that whatever was snatched from Kashmiris on August 05, 2019, will have to be returned with interest. Addressing party workers on the occasion of the 22nd foundation day of PDP at the party headquarters, Mehbooba said that the decision taken in August 2019 made Jammu and Kashmir a scapegoat to gain votes.

"It is unfortunate that the only Muslim-majority state in India got divided," she said, adding that whatever the people of Kashmir faced was not done by India and its constitution, but by an individual party.

“The identities of the people of Jammu and Kashmir were illegally snatched away and whatever was snatched from the people on August 5, 2019, will have to be returned with interest,” she said, adding that “when India was 70 Years later, we can get freedom from the British when BJP can snatch the special status of Jammu and Kashmir after 70 years, then why can't we fight for rights.

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Referring to the abrogation of Article 370, Mufti said it was not given by Pakistan or China. Besides this, she also referred to the visit of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Pakistan and suggested that the present government should consider talking to Islamabad. She also recalled the sudden visit of Prime Minister Modi to Lahore in 2015.

The former J&K CM also remarked that a ceasefire has been imposed to cut down on infiltration from Pakistan. He further said that the Muzaffarabad road was opened only after talks with Pakistan.

"Atal Bihari Vajpayee went for talks in Pakistan. Even Modi went to Lahore and after that Pathankot happened," said Mufti.

"I want to ask PM Modi that why do you get angry when I talk about talks with Pakistan?," Mufti added 

Appealing to the youth to stay away from terrorism, she said that some people want the youth to take up arms, but the youth should stay away from the culture. We will raise our voices in peace. We have to learn from Mahatma Gandhi." (Identity of people of J&K)

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Mehbooba said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir prefer to live with India because of its democratic nature, but whatever India has given to the people, it itself has been taken away.

“Today the armies are not fighting the enemies, Pakistan and China, but the people of Jammu and Kashmir. They (forces) have created fear among the people." She said that people are being threatened for raising their voices.

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