Mehbooba Mufti Accuses Centre Of 'Looting' J&K, Calls 'Abrupt' Dismissal Of 11 Govt Employees 'Criminal'

Bringing up the matter of Article 370, Mufti accused the Union government of 'looting' the people of Jammu and Kashmir, claiming that the resources of the erstwhile state are being drained.

Srinagar: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday contended that a child cannot be held responsible for the actions of his father without proof, alleging that "witch-hunting, criminalisation of dissent is taking the country back".

This is in reference to her tweet about the 11 employees of the Jammu and Kashmir government who were sacked for alleged terror links, including two sons of terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen founder Syed Salahudin. 

The former J&K Chief Minister has claimed that the number of employees sacked is underreported at 11, stating that the actual figures are between 20 to 25.

"I'm not supporting anyone. You can't hold a child responsible for the actions of his father unless and until you have proof. These are not 11 people, they've sacked 20-25 this year," said Mufti commenting on her tweet on the dismissal of 11 government employees.

"Government of India continues disempowering people of J-K in the garb of pseudo nationalism by trampling the Constitution that ought to be upheld. The abrupt dismissal of 11 government employees on flimsy grounds is criminal," she added.

Mehbooba Mufti targetted the central government over its policies, alleging that all "policy decisions viz-a-viz J-K are taken with the sole objective of punishing Kashmiris".

"I've said this, again and again, you can capture a man but not an idea. You've to address the idea, as Vajpayee ji did. Witch-hunting, criminalisation of dissent is taking our nation back," she asserted.

Bringing up the matter of Article 370, Mufti accused the Union government of 'looting' the people of Jammu and Kashmir. She claimed that outsiders are being given top positions at Chenab Valley Power Projects, leading to drain out the union territory's water and electricity.

"But after the abrogation, it seems that the only motive behind this was to loot J-K. People from outside are being given top positions at Chenab Valley Power Projects, our water and electricity are transferred outside. Our transporters are in trouble. They've to pay toll tax and what not," the PDP chief said.

She stressed that the erstwhile king of Jammu and Kashmir had brought Article 370 and Article 35(A) to protect the identity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Article 370, 35(A) and Domicile laws weren't given by a foreign country. Even before the nation gave us these, Maharaja Hari Singh had brought them to protect the identity of the people of J-K. When people decided to be part of India, he said that we have these laws that have to be upheld," Mufti said.

Hitting at the Union government again, Mufti said that inflation and unemployment are rising amid a lack of policies. Comparing Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir, she said that if the onslaught over the economy continues, Jammu and Kashmir's situation will become worse than Gujarat, in terms of poverty.

"There's no policy, unemployment and inflation are rising. Earlier they used to say that J&K is backward, but we're ahead on several indices. But if their onslaught over the economy continues, our situation will become worse than Gujarat as far as poverty is concerned," she added.

(With Agency Inputs)