Days after the rumors of Bharatiya Janata Party uniting with People’s Democratic Party rebels to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir were spread in the media, PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti finally addressed the issue.
Mufti expressed her disgust at the idea and warned that if BJP tries to break PDP, the consequences will be unpleasant. Any attempts made ” by Delhi” to lure away her party leaders will result in “dangerous outcomes”.
Mufti was celebrating Martyr’s Day held every July 13 to commemorate Kashmiri martyred by Dogra forces. She spoke to the reporters expressing her discontentment. She said, “If Delhi tries to dismiss the voting rights of people like in 1987, if it tries to create divisions and interfere like that, then I think a Salahuddin and a Yasin Malik will be born… if it tries to break PDP like that, the outcome will be dangerous.”
Mufti resigned from the post of Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir last month after BJP withdrew its support, ending their three-year alliance. Since the fall of the government, J&K is under the Governor’s rule.
Her contemporary Omar Abdullah, former J&K CM criticized Mufti for her statement. He tweeted, “Let me put this out here for all to remember – NOT ONE NEW MILITANT WILL BE CREATED WITH THE BREAK UP OF THE PDP.” “People will not mourn the demise of a party created in Delhi only to divide the votes of Kashmiris.”
Some senior leaders of PDP have publically accused Mufti of nepotism in the party.
The speculation of BJP forming a government is strong, thus Mufti’s outburst seems justified. Although BJP has rebuffed all the claims of forming Government in J&K with the support of PDP rebels.