PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday hit out at the Center for allegedly demolishing civilian houses, shops and animal shelters illegally in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370.
According to Mufti, if Article 370 was there, it would have been difficult for the Center to demolish civilian houses in the Valley. Speaking at an event in Srinagar, the former chief minister said the people of the Valley were now realizing the importance of the repealed Article and added that it was providing a protective shield to the common people.
Important to control BJP in 2014
During the event, Mufti also upheld his father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s decision to join hands with the saffron brigade to form the government in the Valley during the 2014 assembly elections. Mufti claimed that it was an important decision to “cage the animal”.
“When Article 370 was abrogated, some people thought that it would only affect the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference (NC). How Article 370 was a safeguard for us, Mufti said at a function of her party in the capital city.
PDP had put BJP in a cage
He said, “No one understands that Mufti sahib had kept the animal in the cage. He had kept the BJP in the cage.” “Mufti sahib took three months (to form the government). We have been accused of bringing the BJP to J&K but how will anyone stop them? They had a majority in Parliament, they won a majority in Jammu and two in Kupwara. the seats
“Mufti sahib held the BJP’s hand to stop him. Mufti sahib was the chief minister for one year and I was the chief minister for two years. We implemented our agenda, the Jammu and Kashmir agenda,” she said. Mufti claimed that she would have remained the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir even today if she had toed the BJP’s line. “Since I didn’t, they got kicked out of government,” she said.
(with inputs from agencies)
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