In a public statement on Saturday, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti spoke out about the impact of the abrogation of Article 370 on the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Mufti claimed that the recent use of bulldozers by the BJP-led government to demolish the homes and businesses of poor people in the region had made it clear how important Article 370 had been in providing protection to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Mufti went on to defend her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s decision to form a government with the BJP after the 2014 Assembly polls, saying that he had been successful in “caging the beast”. She did not elaborate further on what she meant by this statement.
The PDP president’s remarks came during a party function in Jammu and Kashmir. Mufti has been a vocal critic of the Indian government’s decision to revoke Article 370, which had granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and has frequently accused the government of using heavy-handed tactics to suppress dissent in the region.
The abrogation of Article 370 has been a highly controversial issue in India, with critics arguing that it has led to increased militarization and human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian government, on the other hand, has defended the decision as necessary for the region’s development and security.
(Inputs from PTI)
The Chenab Times News Desk