BJP should not mistake silence in J&K as normalcy: Mehbooba Mufti

Srinagar: Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, on Sunday said that the BJP government should sent a team of representatives as they did in 2016 to heal the wounds of people of the region.The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief said the BJP should not mistake the silence in J&K as normalcy and acknowledge that there is problem on the ground and reconsider its approach.

“The BJP government should come down from the high horse and acknowledge that the situation is not normal. They should reach out to the people of J&K like they did in 2016 to heal the wounds of the people as they have hurt them a lot,” said Mufti.

She reminisced that the then BJP government had sent delegations of parliamentarians to talk to the separatists.

“In 2016, they sent a delegation to talk to the separatists but they didn’t respond as they thought by stones, attacking police stations and burning hospitals, they can resolve the Kashmir issue. It didn’t yield anything,” said Mufti adding, “BJP should understand that force doesn’t bring any solutions and they should build on the confidence-building measures initiated during my tenure”. The separatists had at that time refused to engage with the delegation.

“The façade of normalcy has been created by the force of agencies and the imposition of draconian laws such as the Public Safety Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). But this will not last forever. The government must reconsider its approach, reach out to the people,” said Mufti.The PDP chief also urged J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to refrain from endorsing the August 5, 2019, decision in the formulation of business rules for the assembly. She warned that such a move would legitimise the “illegal and unconstitutional” actions taken by the BJP to abrogate Articles 370 and 35A.“While the BJP may not restore these rights, it is likely that India, as a nation, will have to do so sooner or later. Any endorsement by the J&K government would weaken this claim and diminish the state’s position. We have to keep the argument and narrative alive,” she said.

She also stressed the need to reopen key cross LoC trade routes, such as Uri-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot, to boost the region’s economy. “As Jammu is increasingly sidelined, the Jammu-Sialkot route should also be revived to provide a market for Jammu’s products,” she said.

“It seems there is no change between the LG administration and elected government. The termination of employees has not stopped. Harassment of people continues and political prisoners have not been released,” said Mufti.