Srinagar, Oct 23: Alleging that the BJP-led central government desecrated the Constitution of India by abrogating special status of J&K, former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said Article 370 restoration is a long drawn battle.
She said she has no interest in contesting elections without J&K flag and J&K constitution being restored.
“The centre desecrated the Constitution of India by abrogating the special status of J&K. BJP misused Parliament … the Parliament had no right to do it,” Mehbooba said during her first press conference here on Friday after being released 10 days ago from 14-month-long detention.
Mehbooba said her struggle will not stop at restoration of special status of J&K, but will go beyond that. “It will for the resolution of Kashmir problem,” she said.
“We don’t want violence. They have disrupted everything in the valley and are making decisions for Kashmiris which are against the will of people. They don’t want the people of Jammu Kashmir, they just want the territory. We acceded to democratic secular India and are uncomfortable with today’s India,” she said.
Answering a question whether she would hold the Indian flag, Ms Mehbooba said, “My flag is here (referring to the flag of erstwhile state of J&K placed on a table). As long as our flag is not returned, we will not hold any other flag. When we will get this flag back we will hold the other flag.”
The question asked was in reference to her comment made before August 5, 2019, that ‘if the special status of J&K will be abrogated there would be no one left in the erstwhile state to hold the flag of India’.
Expressing regret over forging an alliance with BJP, Mehbooba said the PDP had put its faith in a Prime Minister whose government misused the bruit majority in Parliament.
Urging people to support the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, the PDP president said she is seeking support to face the challenge and bring back which was stolen from J&K
“Our is a political fight. It is a long drawn battle. We will use all peaceful means during our fight for restoration of what was snatched from us on August 5, 2019,” she said.
On forthcoming DDC polls, Mehbooba said, “I personally have no interest in contesting elections. The party workers will sit and decide whether PDP wants to contest election. Similarly Peoples Alliance will decide separately, but as far as Mehbooba Mufti is concerned, I’m not interested in contesting elections as the constitution under which I used to fight polls has been desecrated”.
“Our fight is not confined for the restoration of Article 370, but for the resolution of Kashmir issue as well. Kashmir issue is an issue and nobody can turn their eye blind towards it,” she added.
Art 370 restoration a long drawn fight: Mehbooba
