Mehbooba Mufti calls National Conference a traitor in Srinagar speech
The PDP president blamed the National Conference for the trust deficit between the Centre and Kashmir.
PDP president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday labelled the National Conference (NC) a "traitor" during a party event in Srinagar. According to The New Indian Express, Mufti held the ruling party responsible for the deep-rooted mistrust between New Delhi and Kashmiris.
Mufti alleged that the changing political stands of the NC have pushed people into prolonged uncertainty and suspicion. She questioned why Kashmiris face harassment, discrimination, and restrictions, including the detention of youth and the eviction of tribal communities from land.
The PDP chief traced the origins of this mistrust to the political history of the NC, specifically the shifting positions of its founder, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. She stated that Abdullah supported accession to India in 1947 after considering the vision of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, but later raised the issue of plebiscite and Pakistan for nearly 22 years.
Mufti claimed that Abdullah eventually signed an accord to return to power, which she said effectively abandoned the autonomy he had previously championed. She asserted that the political conduct of the NC laid the foundation for the current atmosphere of suspicion.
Mufti also accused the NC leadership of using Ikhwan forces during the militancy period. She remarked that recent statements by NC president Farooq Abdullah regarding Pakistan gave Delhi an opportunity to view the people of Jammu and Kashmir with suspicion.
The PDP president stated that her party was established to restore the dignity and identity of Jammu and Kashmir. She told the Government of India that the people of the region are the crown of India.