SRINAGAR, May 6: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has firmly criticized the ruling National Conference (NC) for allegedly using religious scripture to distract from their governance failures. She made these remarks during a press conference in Srinagar while addressing concerns of the local populace.
Mufti stated, “For God’s sake, do not drag Quran into politics. The NC uses this tactic to obscure their failures over the past two years in power. People are disheartened with their governance.” Her comments came in response to a question concerning MLA Zadibal and NC’s chief spokesman Tanvir Sadiq, who suggested that PDP officials swear by the Quran regarding their voting actions in the Rajya Sabha elections.
An RTI query revealed that the PDP had not appointed a chief agent for the Rajya Sabha polls held in October last year. This finding led to allegations from NC that PDP’s three MLAs cast their votes for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the elections.
Mehbooba Mufti continued her critique, asserting that the National Conference was attempting to shift the spotlight away from pressing social issues. “Houses are being demolished under the guise of fighting drugs. Previously, similar measures were taken under the pretext of combating terrorism. Current employees are facing unjust dismissals, and bright students are grappling with tormenting experiences,” she declared.
The former chief minister further lamented the absence of effective governance, saying, “All the current government has done is remain a mute spectator to the problems faced by the people. It is crucial for political parties to compete fairly and focus on issues rather than using religious sentiments for political gains.”
As Jammu and Kashmir mulled over the political implications, Mehbooba emphasized a desire for healthy political discourse free from the entanglement of religious contexts.
The PDP leader’s remarks have stirred discussions among political analysts, who observe that such accusations highlight the ongoing tensions between Jammu and Kashmir’s leading political factions. The region faces pressing concerns, including housing and employment that remain critical to its socio-political stability.
