Mehbooba Mufti Accuses NC of Manipulating Elections as ‘Halal’ and ‘Haram’ for Political Gain

SRINAGAR, Aug 30: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti sharply criticized the National Conference (NC) for what she described as its inconsistent stance on elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking at the PDP headquarters, Mufti accused the NC of treating J&K as their personal domain, manipulating the legitimacy of elections based on their political convenience. According to Mufti, when the NC is in power, elections are deemed “halal” (permissible), but when they are not, the electoral process is labeled “haram” (forbidden).

Mufti outlined a historical pattern of the NC’s approach to elections, arguing that their acceptance or rejection of electoral participation has fluctuated according to their political fortunes. She recalled that in 1947, when Sheikh Abdullah was appointed as the administrative officer and later assumed the role of Prime Minister after J&K’s accession to India, elections were considered “halal.” However, when Abdullah was removed from office, elections were deemed “haram” for the subsequent 22 years, during which time he championed the cause of “self-determination” and denounced elections as illegitimate.

In her remarks, Mufti also referenced the political climate of the 1970s, when Sheikh Abdullah was reinstated as Chief Minister, leading to elections once again being categorized as “halal.” She questioned the NC’s rationale for declaring the participation of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and the Muslim United Front (MUF) as either permissible or forbidden, particularly noting the controversial 1987 elections. According to Mufti, the NC engaged in election rigging to prevent the rise of a third force like the MUF, thereby excluding other parties from the political process.

Mufti’s comments came in response to recent remarks by NC Vice President Omar Abdullah regarding JeI’s decision to participate in elections. She highlighted that the NC had previously engaged in similar practices, effectively closing off the electoral process to rival parties through manipulation and rigging.

Further, Mufti called for the government to lift the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and return the organization’s assets and institutions across J&K. She framed the participation of Jamaat-e-Islami in elections as a positive development for democracy, asserting that it reflects a healthy contest of ideas. According to Mufti, the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and the seizure of its assets are counterproductive to democratic principles and should be addressed promptly.