Aazan Manzoor
Srinagar, Apr 17: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday accused the BJP of hypocrisy, saying the party speaks of uplifting backward Muslims while simultaneously demolishing mosques and occupying Waqf land.
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“You talk about the welfare of backward Muslims, yet your government is demolishing mosques in Uttar Pradesh and laying hands on Waqf properties. In Kashmir, Waqf became the inheritance of one family, but Mufti Sahab set an example by establishing colleges and religious schools on Waqf land. At the very least, don’t snatch our land,” Mehbooba said at a public gathering in Srinagar as per news agency JKNS.
Mehbooba condemned recent incidents in West Bengal, saying, “What happened in Murshidabad was wrong. You stood with those trying to destroy Muslims.”
She said India belongs to all faiths. “India is the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. You treat it as though it belonged to the Mughal Empire. This country united Sikhs, Muslims, and Hindus. Don’t break this unity. We have carried this nation with our hands—don’t wound those very hands.”
“The heirs of the Mughals are among you, not us,” she said, taking a swipe at the BJP.
On former RAW chief A.S. Dulat’s recent comments, she said, “I wasn’t surprised. The National Conference has betrayed Kashmiris since the 1990s. When we allied with the BJP, people were angry with us. But we only talked to them for two months. It was NC who went ahead. Both Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah met the Prime Minister on August 3. Dulat said Farooq was ready to go with BJP—I’m not surprised.”
Mehbooba said her party introduced four important bills, including on electricity and daily wagers, and brought a resolution against the Waqf Bill.
On the PAGD alliance, she said, “I created the alliance to bring everyone together, not for personal gain. I accepted the Iftar invitation despite my workers being upset. They asked me why I went—I told them it was for unity.”
She criticised Omar Abdullah for “moving in the Tulip Garden with the Union Minority Affairs Minister who brought the Waqf Bill,” at a time when Waqf lands in J&K were being targeted.
Mehbooba also expressed concern over the broader situation in India. “Today, people who die aren’t even allowed to be buried in graveyards. I had written to Hurriyat leaders in 2016, but they missed the opportunity and closed their doors. India took advantage of that.”
In a message to BJP, she said, “Hurriyat may have been on horseback then, but now it’s you who are riding high—arresting youth under UAPA and PSA, seizing passports, and terminating employees. I urge you to talk to the people of Kashmir. Kashmir is the crown of India—let it remain that way.” (JKNS)
