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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, expressed her disappointment over the Supreme Court Constitution Bench on Monday upholding the constitutional validity of the Centre’s August 2019 move to abrogate Article 370. She has however urged people not to lose hope, even as her party suspended all its political activities for a week “in solidarity with the J&K people”.
In an interview with The Indian Express, Mehbooba speaks on various issues arising out of the apex court’s judgment. Excerpts:
How do you see the Supreme Court verdict on Article 370?
With due respect to the Supreme Court, I am sorry to say that this has been a huge let-down. The SC has given a free licence to the BJP to play with the Constitution, to play with the sentiments of the people. If you recall the previous SC judgments whether it is selection of Election Commission or the powers of Delhi government, the Central government hasn’t given any response to them. They have done what they had to do. Unfortunately, here (in this case) the SC has put its stamp on it. They (BJP) will repeat it in other parts of India. Jammu and Kashmir is just a laboratory.
The apex court has set a timeframe for the J&K elections but no timeframe for restoration of its statehood. Are you hopeful that J&K will get the statehood any time soon?
(Laughs) Everyone knows the answer. I don’t think so. The BJP says a lot of things but does only what they have to do. It could be just another jumla as they call it… like they said about depositing Rs 15 lakhs in your account or creating two crore jobs. They are all jumlas.
You have called for the need to be united? Does it make the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD)’s role more significant now?
Why just the PAGD. We want to and would have to expand it to all the political parties and leaders of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. We have to take all along with us and fight it together.
Would this involve all leaders and political parties?
Yes, all. But then there are some political parties and leaders who have the same thought process as that of the BJP. They feel everything is fine here. There is no point engaging with them.
How would the SC verdict change the politics of the PDP?
It is not going to change because since the inception of PDP our politics has been people’s politics. PDP has been fundamentally pursuing facilitation of resolution of the Kashmir issue. When we started, we had Articles 370 and 35-A, but still people were getting killed, there was distrust. The distrust has gone up. The problem is there. We would carry on with our agenda and raise voice for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and against the repression whether it is political, social or economic.
Would PDP participate in elections if and when they are held?
Why not? In a democracy you fight on all fronts. We will use all the institutions in our fight for the rights of the people.
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