Whatever was snatched from J&K in 2019 must be returned with interest: Mehbooba Mufti

Mufti said her party would continue to advocate peace with dignity and struggle for the identity and rights of the people of J&K.

Mufti at a PDP event in Srinagar. (Express Photo by Shuaib Masoodi)

Terming the BJP a “modern-day East India Company”, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday said that whatever was illegally “snatched from the people” of J&K on August 5, 2019 will have to be returned with interest.

Mufti said her party would continue to advocate peace with dignity and struggle for the identity and rights of the people of J&K.

“It is unfortunate that the only Muslim majority state in India was split, (and it) wasn’t done by India and its Constitution but by an individual party.” Mufti said, addressing a convention on PDP’s 22nd foundation day. “The identity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir was illegally snatched. And whatever was snatched. from people on August 5, 2019 will have to be returned with interest.”

Mufti said PDP’s stand that peace in South Asia is subservient to J&K has been vindicated by the emerging geopolitical situation. Mufti said the PDP would not only fight for the identity of J&K but also for resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

Mufti also criticised the BJP for “bulldozing the democratic ethos and institutions” of the country.

Bashaarat Masood

Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. ... Read More

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