Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti has issued a strong rebuttal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent allegations regarding the political history of the region. During a media interaction in Srinagar, Mufti asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had previously approached the PDP to form a government, indicating a complicated political relationship.
Mufti claimed that Kashmir’s integration into India owes much to the efforts of the Abdullah family, stating, “If the Abdullahs had implemented Pakistan’s agenda, Jammu and Kashmir would have been independent and in Pakistan instead of India.” She emphasized that Prime Minister Modi should express gratitude to Sheikh Abdullah for the role he played in ensuring Jammu and Kashmir’s place within India.
The PDP leader recounted that the BJP had sought to form a coalition government with the PDP, suggesting that they were willing to accept conditions such as the protection of Article 370, the removal of AFSPA, and initiating dialogue with Pakistan and separatists. “They themselves came to our doorstep,” Mufti remarked, pointing out the BJP’s previous alliance with Omar Abdullah.
Critiquing Modi’s remarks, Mufti accused the BJP of failing to fulfil its promises, particularly regarding job creation. She expressed frustration over the party’s focus on communal issues, stating, “After doing Hindu-Muslim, lynching Muslims, breaking mosques, now they have remembered Pakistan.” She concluded that such statements are merely a distraction from the BJP’s failures.
The comments reflect the ongoing tensions in Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape, as Mufti continues to assert the PDP’s influence and the legacy of the Abdullah family in the region’s integration with India.