Mehbooba Playing to Press Gallery, Ignoring PDP’s Past Alliance with BJP: NC
PDP Responsible for J&K’s Current Crisis, People Won’t Forget: Deputy CM Choudhary
Jammu, Mar 4: The National Conference (NC) on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti, accusing her of playing to the press gallery while conveniently ignoring her party’s role in the abrogation of Article 370. The party asserted that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have not forgotten the PDP’s alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which it said paved the way for the scrapping of the region’s special status in August 2019.
The remarks came after Mehbooba Mufti criticized the lieutenant governor’s address in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday, alleging that it made no mention of a resolution passed by the House calling for the restoration of Article 370. She also accused the National Conference of “validating” the abrogation and called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to stand up for the rights and dignity of the people.
However, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary dismissed Mehbooba’s remarks, calling them an attempt to score political points. “Mehbooba Mufti is merely enacting a drama to grab media attention. She is trying to create a false perception that she is standing for the people, but the reality is different,” Choudhary told reporters outside the Assembly.
Choudhary did not mince words in holding the PDP responsible for the abrogation of Article 370, citing its 2015-2018 alliance with the BJP. “It was the PDP that brought the BJP into power in Jammu and Kashmir. That alliance laid the groundwork for what eventually led to the revocation of Article 370 and the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories,” he said.
He further stated that while the PDP now attempts to portray itself as a champion of people’s rights, the public is well aware of its past actions. “The people of Jammu and Kashmir have suffered immensely over the last six years. Mehbooba’s sudden concern for the region is nothing but political opportunism,” Choudhary added.
Refuting Mehbooba’s allegations, Choudhary emphasized that the National Conference has been at the forefront of efforts to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. He pointed out that the Assembly passed a resolution for its restoration during its very first session under the current administration. “We took this step in our first Cabinet meeting, and it was later passed by the Assembly. Unlike the PDP, which compromised for power, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to the people,” he said.
Apart from Article 370, Choudhary called on the PDP to shift its focus toward pressing issues such as public welfare and development. “Instead of making empty statements, the PDP should address the real concerns of the people—unemployment, economic growth, healthcare, and infrastructure development,” he said.
Health Minister Sakina Itoo echoed similar sentiments, holding the PDP accountable for the challenges the region has faced in recent years. “People placed their trust in the PDP once, but they have now learned from their mistakes. The loss of statehood, the abrogation of Article 370, and widespread unemployment were direct consequences of the PDP’s actions,” she said.
Reacting to the criticism, Mehbooba Mufti had on Monday taken a swipe at the administration, questioning why the lieutenant governor’s address failed to mention the Assembly’s resolution for the restoration of Article 370. “This government did not dare to even mention the resolution they claimed was meant for the restoration of Article 370,” she said.
Meanwhile, PDP MLA Waheed Para dismissed the lieutenant governor’s address as lacking substance. “It was nothing more than a vision document of the government, devoid of any serious discussion on the pressing issues facing Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
