Srinagar, April 19: People’s Democratic PArty president Mehbooba said that the main purpose of the PDP to seek votes is to tell the country through parliament that what BJP did in 2019 is not acceptable.
Addressing an election rally in Pulwama, she said that the unilateral decisions, stifling of just voices and erosion of constitutional guarantees are unacceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We will tell this to the people of the country in parliament. This is the reason why attempts to divide our votes must be foiled. Para is eminently qualified to represent the voices besides being able to maintain connection with the roots that he had developed as party’s youth leader since inception,” she said, according to a statement issued here.
She highlighted a grim picture of the current state of affairs in Jammu and Kashmir, lamenting the transformation of the erstwhile state into an “open-air prison.”
She also highlighted the plight of the people, with youth languishing in jails in different states and unemployment rates soaring.
While launching a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), she accused them of seeking to strip away the rights and resources of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, pushing them towards a state of bonded labor.
She also invoked the legacy of PDP founder, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, crediting him with reigniting hope and restoring dignity to the people during times of political turmoil.
“When POTA was imposed in the state and SOG besides other gunmen were unleashing terror, people had lost all hopes. It was Mufti Mohammad Sayeed who arrogated the responsibility of according people a dignified life upon himself. Things changed and people heaved a sigh of relief when for the first time PDP formed the government in Jammu and Kashmir.”
She added that the present time is a testing time as well. “Neither stone nor gun, vote is our only weapon and we must use it now to give befitting reply to the elements who are out there to besiege our conscience and identity,” she said.
She also urged people to unite against attempts by Delhi to divide their votes, emphasizing Para as the most suitable candidate to represent their interests in parliament.
Meanwhile, the party welcomed Javed Rahim, a prominent political figure and District Development Council (DDC) member into the party fold.