Mehbooba Mufti Takes a Stand, Refuses to Contest Assembly Elections without Article 370 Restoration

21-05-2023 : Mehbooba Mufti, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and the leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), made a significant statement declaring her refusal to participate in Assembly elections until Article 370 is reinstated in J&K. In her interaction with the media, she expressed her skepticism about the likelihood of Assembly elections taking place in the near future.

Mufti also criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for what she perceived as its appropriation of the G20 event, asserting that the BJP had “hijacked” it. She accused the party of replacing the G20 logo with its own lotus symbol, emphasizing that the logo should have been representative of the country, not a political party. Mufti proposed that instead of focusing on the G20, India should prioritize hosting the SAARC summit to establish its leadership in the region.

The biennial SAARC summits, which facilitate regional cooperation, have not been held since the 2014 meeting in Kathmandu due to strained India-Pakistan relations. Mufti suggested that a SAARC summit would address the issues facing the country more effectively and bolster India’s leadership in the region.

Meanwhile, Mufti commended the people of Karnataka for their recent Assembly election results, which she viewed as a glimmer of hope for the entire country. She characterized the defeat of the “fascist, communal, and divisive” BJP as a significant moment. However, she cautioned against the developments in Delhi, citing the recent ordinance granting overriding powers to the Lieutenant Governor over civil servants. Mufti interpreted this move as a warning for the entire nation, emphasizing that similar incidents could occur anywhere.

Mufti credited Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra (India Unite March) for laying the foundation of the Congress party’s victory in the Karnataka Assembly election. She expressed optimism that leaders such as Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar would work towards healing the wounds caused by divisive politics and communalism during the previous five years.

Mehbooba Mufti adamantly declared that she wasn’t going to participate in the Assembly elections until Article 370 was restored in Jammu and Kashmir. She criticized the BJP for how it handled the G20 meeting and suggested that attention be directed toward the SAARC summit instead. The Karnataka election results were praised by Mufti as a sign of hope for the country, but she cautioned against jumping to conclusions given recent events in Delhi. She acknowledged Rahul Gandhi’s efforts and expressed her wish for peace and harmony in the area. She said that the Bharat Jodo Yatra, led by Rahul Gandhi, had created the groundwork for the Congress’ triumph in the Karnataka Assembly election.
“The past five years have been marred by prejudice and racial politics. Here in Karnataka, divisive politics were also practiced. The PDP leader stated that Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar are going to heal the wounds.