'Afghanistan, A Lesson For J&K', Says Mehbooba Mufti. BJP-Led Center Calls It 'Politics Of Hatred'

Mufti said that the Government of India should return 'what it has snatched from us and address the Kashmir issue according to the wishes and aspirations of the people of J-K'.

Mehbooba Mufti (Image Source: PTI)

New Delhi: Controversy erupted when People's Democratic Party's president Mehbooba Mufti asked the Centre to take a lesson out of Afghanistan where the Taliban seized power and made the US flee.

She urged the government to hold dialogue in Jammu and Kashmir and return its special status which was revoked in 2019.

Referring to the Taliban seizing power in Afghanistan, "America, a superpower, had to pack their bags and flee. You (the Centre) still have the opportunity to start a dialogue process in J-K like the former PM Vajpayee had and mend your mistake of snatching the J-K's identity illegally and unconstitutionally and splitting of J-K, otherwise, it will be too late", she said while addressing her party workers in Kulgam district of south Kashmir.

The former chief minister warned the Centre "to not test us" and asked the government to mend its ways, "understand the situation, and see what is happening in your neighbourhood."

Her remarks were quick to draw a sharp reaction from the BJP which accused her of indulging in "politics of hatred" after losing ground in the Union Territory and said anyone who conspires against India will be destroyed, reported PTI. 

Union Minister Anurag Thakur told ANI, "It is Mehbooba Mufti's old habit to make comments that are not in interests of the nation. She must understand that Article 370 is gone forever... The government is continuously talking to people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh but she wants to talk to somewhere else".

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina lashed out at Mehbooba for her remarks and said she "is under some misconception. India is a powerful country and our Prime Minister is Narendra Modi unlike (US president) Joe Biden who withdrew from Afghanistan. Whether it is the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, LeT, JeM, or Hizbul anyone who conspires against India will be destroyed."

He further said that the PDP president 'committed a great sin' against the country and that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are patriots who love their nation and are keeping the national flag flying high. He added, that the people are helping the police, Army and paramilitary forces in combating terrorism.

Mufti said that the Government of India should return 'what it has snatched from us and address the Kashmir issue according to the wishes and aspirations of the people of J-K'.

She further said that the whole world was watching the Taliban who are now controlling Afghanistan and they made the US flee. She said that the whole world was watching them whether they will do the same strictness or behave well with the people. She said, they are saying the gun will not do. Mehbooba said there was a lesson for the people of J-K in the situation in Afghanistan.

She urged the youth to resist by staying alive and do not lose their lives. When you lose your lives, everything is over. The people at the other end do not understand that the youth of Kashmir should not sacrifice their lives. They are not bothered. So, I appeal to all the youngsters not to pick up guns or stones. If you cannot speak with your tongue, then remember the wounds in your heart, she said.

Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill also condemned her remark and said "Mehbooba Mufti quoted speech is highly condemnable & provocative . Rather than preaching peace, exposing Govt on policy issues if your politics requires you to threaten the establishment with violent consequences then clearly you are steering to wrong path-Sad & Shameful," according to PTI.