Srinagar, Jan 20: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday clarified that the so-called “Dixon Plan” was never part of her party’s vision. She said it was associated with the National Conference (NC) and its founder, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, who was jailed over it.
The NC patron, Dr Farooq Abdullah, earlier in the day, termed Mehbooba Mufti’s idea of creating separate divisions for the Chenab and Pir Panjal regions as a “Dixon Plan”.
Addressing a press conference in Jammu, Mufti reminded Dr Abdullah of this history, criticising him for allegedly misrepresenting her remarks.
“Farooq Sahab is our tallest leader; we respect him, but he forgot that his father, Sheikh Abdullah, was arrested over the Dixon Plan,” Mehbooba said. “That (Dixon Plan) may have been NC’s agenda, not ours. This can never be the agenda of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s party,” she said.
The PDP chief said her remarks regarding the creation of divisional administrations for Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley were purely administrative in nature. “Pir Panjal and Chenab are remote, sensitive regions facing environmental fragility, connectivity issues and recurring disasters. Giving them administrative empowerment is justice, not division,” she said.
Criticising Dr Abdullah for “misinterpreting” her remarks, Mufti said, “I was expecting Farooq Sahab to speak against the summoning of journalists in Srinagar and them being made to sign bonds. Instead, he accused me of pursuing the Dixon Plan.”
She accused the BJP and NC of double standards, saying that neither party raised objections when Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated in 2019. “BJP already divided the state into two parts. You talk about their leader’s trifurcation demand, yet Farooq Sahab remains silent. But when I talk about administrative convenience, it becomes an agenda,” she said.
Reiterating her party’s core policy, the former Chief Minister said, “The PDP has only one agenda of peace with dignity. Dialogue and reconciliation were the essence of Mufti Sahib’s politics. He worked with Vajpayee to bring peace, open roads like Uri–Muzaffarabad and Poonch–Rawalakot and keep Jammu and Kashmir united.”
On the return of Kashmiri Pandits, Mehbooba said their homecoming should be based on their choice. “We feel incomplete without them. I requested the Governor to reserve two Assembly seats for them, so they can elect their own representatives instead of being nominated from outside,” she said.
Responding to BJP’s claims that her comments aligned with “greater Kashmir” or “ISI designs”, Mehbooba dismissed the allegations as baseless. “We only want a Divisional Commissioner closer to people. We are not taking Rajouri-Poonch or Doda-Kishtwar away from anyone, and we are demanding governance at their doorstep,” she said—(KNO)
