24-06-2023 : Mehbooba Mufti, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, expressed her views on the state’s transformation after the abrogation of Article 370 and its division into two Union territories. She referred to Jammu and Kashmir as a “laboratory” for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the central government. According to Mufti, the changes implemented in Jammu and Kashmir were a precursor to what is happening at the national level, and she expressed concerns about the “Kashmirisation” of the entire country if the BJP returned to power.
Mufti criticized the BJP’s decision to revoke Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and the subsequent detention of political leaders, including herself. She claimed that the BJP’s actions in Jammu and Kashmir were an attack on the idea of India and that the party would disregard the constitution and impose its ideology across the nation if it regained power in 2024.
Regarding the recent opposition meeting, Mufti clarified that while the controversy surrounding the Aam Aadmi Party’s allegation against the Congress was raised, the primary focus of the meeting was on the idea of India and the assaults on the constitution. She acknowledged that some parties, including the AAP, may not have fully understood the implications of the bill that stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its statehood and special status at the time.
When asked about the restoration of Article 370, Mufti emphasized that the fight is to protect the constitution, and Article 370 was a part of it. She argued that the special status enjoyed by Jammu and Kashmir was granted by the Indian Constitution itself and was not a concession from foreign countries like China or Pakistan. Mufti also criticized the BJP for disregarding the Supreme Court’s stance that Article 370 could not be scrapped without a recommendation from the constituent assembly of Jammu and Kashmir.
In response to questions about sectarian violence in Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti raised the issue of violence in Manipur and questioned why it receives less attention, suggesting that the ruling BJP’s influence might play a role in the discrepancy.
Regarding the opposition’s “face” for the upcoming elections, Mufti dismissed the need for one, highlighting that the parties attending the meeting collectively received more than 60 percent of the votes in the last Lok Sabha polls.
Mufti took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the warm reception he receives during his foreign visits is due to the respect India enjoys as a soft power, which is owed to the constitution.
In response to former US President Barack Obama’s concerns about religious tolerance in India, Mufti commented that such issues gain attention when they spread widely in the news.
Lastly, Mufti expressed her gratitude to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for organizing the opposition conclave and shared her enjoyment of visiting various places, including Bodh Gaya, Takht Harmandir Patna Sahib, and the tomb of the last Muslim ruler of Kashmir, Yousuf Shah Chak, in Nalanda. She also recalled the friendship between her late father, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, and admired her father’s resolute stance against the BJP.