Not only Statehood, Article 370 and 35-A first priority: Mehbooba Mufti

BUDGAM — Former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party President, Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said that her party’s first priority is not only to struggle for bringing back the Statehood to erstwhile J&K but also restoration of Article 370 and 35-A.

While addressing the party workers convention at Budgam, Mehbooba Mufti lashed out at the Central government alleging them of forcing Kashmiris to pick up arms and said, “Our leaders including Waheed Parra and Sartaj Madni are still behind the bars. I want to tell you that we don’t have to pick arms or stones what they (Central government) want, but we have to stand on our feet.”

She said, “Our elders used to praise India for respecting the sentiments and providing the basic rights viz State subjects, Article 370 and 35-A to Kashmiris, but now the same country has stripped them of their basic rights.”

She reiterated her demand of peaceful resolution to Kashmir issue, saying that PDP have always advocated for talks with Pakistan for the peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue.

She also accused the Centre of using probing agencies like ED and NIA to suppress her party leaders, adding that some leaders are only quitting PDP to avoid any action on part of these probing agencies.

Meanwhile, the party conviction at Dak Banglov Budgam was also attended by General Secretary Gh. Nabi Lone Hanjuri, Dr. Mehboob Beigh, Spokesperson Sohail Bukhari, Firdous Ahmad Tak, District President Mohd Yaseen Bhat, besides other leaders.