bjp-trying-to-keep-me-away-from-parliament-mehbooba-mufti

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday accused the BJP of trying to keep her away from Parliament.

Addressing a press conference at her hometown Bijbehara in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag, Mufti said she had stood by her party through thick and thin, adding that she hoped they would vote for her in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Mufti slammed the BJP, saying it was “hell-bent on damaging every institution of Jammu and Kashmir, employing tactics to keep me away from Parliament.”

The BJP, which held power at the Centre, was “aware that if I reach Parliament it will create trouble for them,” she said.

"After August 5, 2019, the present setup has employed every method to dismantle the PDP, which has served as the credible voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, consistently raising genuine concerns in the corridors of power,” she added.

Getting emotional, the former chief minister said South Kashmir was her homeland and Bijbehara her hometown. Remembering her father (Indian politician Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, who served twice as the CM of Jammu and Kashmir) , she said, “His grave is here. Whenever I feel I am facing difficulties I visit this place and offer Fatiha (prayers).”

Continuing in that vein, she said she began her political career in 1996 alongside her late father. “Today, in his absence, I face manifold challenges arising from the abrogation of Article 370 and 35(A)," she added.

Responding to a query regarding voter turnout she said, people were her hope and she anticipated they would come out in large numbers in favour of PDP. 

In 2019, Mufti lost the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat to Justice (retd) Hasnain Masoodi of the National Conference by nearly 10,000 votes when voter turnout was recorded at a very poor 13.61%.