Govt thrusting ‘political Ikhwan’ in J-K: Mehbooba Mufti

SRINAGAR — Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday levelled critical allegations on the government, saying “political Ikhwan is being thrusting in Jammu and Kashmir, and 1987-like poll rigging is being repeated”.

Addressing a press conference here in Srinagar, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, as per the news agency KNS, said that it is surprising that Section 143 has been imposed in district Pulwama ahead of Lok Sabha elections in the segment which is being held on May 13.

“It is unprecedented that Section 143 has been imposed in district Pulwama. For the past few days, our party workers who have participated actively in poll campaigning are being summoned to police stations and subsequently detained. Besides our 60 workers have been arrested in Poonch district after militants ambushed the IAF convoy in Sanai Top,” she said.

“We want to ask the Election Commission of India (ECI) if you want to rig elections like rigged in 1987, then what for this whole drama is being created,” Mehbooba Mufti said.

She alleged that the government is trying to revive “Ikhwan” in Jammu and Kashmir to muzzle people’s voices in the region. “They (government) have constituted sooted-booted Ikhwan. They have formed political Ikhwan this time to throttle the voice of hapless people of Jammu and Kashmir,” she said.

The PDP chief, who is herself contesting Lok Sabha elections from the southern Anantnag-Rajouri seat, alleged that PDP workers are selectively being targeted. She appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha that if the government was willing to do this, then what for this election drama was staged?

“Each and every institution of the Government of India is being used to help proxies of BJP in Jammu and Kashmir with an aim to throttle the real voice of J&K,” she alleged.

She said abundant graveyards have come into being after election rigging took place in 1987. She also said that due to the pro-people approach of Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the confidence of Kashmir’s on-vote chit was restored but the situation is being repeated today.

“You have jailed Kashmiri youth like Waheed Para, but we are making them to be ready to reach Parliament. You have stated militancy is over in Jammu and Kashmir, if it is a reality, then what for Section 143 being imposed,” Mehbooba stated.