Srinagar, Jun 02: Minister for Health and Education, Sakina Itoo, on Tuesday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti, of putting power above the interests of the people and blamed her for the crisis Jammu and Kashmir is facing today.
Speaking to reporters here, Itoo said that after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah had tried to bring all political parties of Jammu and Kashmir on one platform.
“If you remember, after 2019 there was PAGD, where Dr Farooq Abdullah tried to gather all political parties of Jammu and Kashmir under one roof to represent the people of J&K and raise their voice,” she said.
Itoo alleged that even before the formation of PAGD, the National Conference leadership had offered unconditional support to Mehbooba Mufti after the collapse of the PDP-BJP government in 2018 to prevent the BJP from returning to power in Jammu and Kashmir.
“When the BJP withdrew support from her government, Omar Abdullah had offered unconditional support and said the NC did not need any ministry or office, but only wanted to keep the BJP away from Jammu and Kashmir. But she rejected that support because she was hungry for power and wanted to remain on the chair,” Itoo said.
The minister alleged that the PDP’s alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the decisions taken during that period ultimately paved the way for the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A and the downgrading of Jammu and Kashmir from a state to a Union Territory.
“Today you don’t have a state, you don’t have Article 370, you don’t have Article 35A, you don’t have jobs, thousands of people are in jail and people have suffered immensely. Jammu and Kashmir has been pushed into this situation because of those decisions,” she said.
Itoo further alleged that Mehbooba Mufti failed to strengthen the collective political effort and eventually distanced herself from PAGD.
“Farooq Abdullah kept political differences aside and invited everyone to one platform for the interests of Jammu and Kashmir. But even after joining PAGD, she left it. Today, it is only about power. She is trying to regain power. There is no sincerity or loyalty towards the people,” the minister said.
“She has destroyed Jammu and Kashmir,” Itoo added.
On the issue of statehood, the National Conference leader said the people of Jammu and Kashmir were not seeking charity but demanding restoration of their constitutional rights.
“The people of J&K are not begging for statehood. It is their right. Jammu and Kashmir had statehood for decades and it was one of the oldest states in the country. This is perhaps the first time such a big state was converted into a Union Territory,” she said.
Referring to Ladakh, she said if constitutional and administrative rights could be discussed there, the people of Jammu and Kashmir too deserved restoration of their rights and dignity.
Commenting on recent demolition drives and anti-encroachment actions in Jammu, Itoo accused authorities of selectively targeting poor people while influential land encroachers were allegedly being spared. “You are demolishing the houses and properties of poor people who have nowhere to go. How many influential people and BJP leaders have occupied land? Why is no action taken against them? Whenever there is action, the poor are targeted,” she said.
Calling the situation “deeply unfortunate,” Itoo said the National Conference would continue its struggle for restoration of statehood, Article 370 and Article 35A, besides safeguarding the political and constitutional rights and identity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir—(KNO)
