Srinagar, May 6: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti condemned the ruling National Conference (NC) on Wednesday, accusing them of misusing religious scripture to shift focus from their governance failures. During a press briefing in Srinagar, she remarked, “For God’s sake, do not drag the Quran into politics. This is a mere attempt by the NC to conceal their failures over the past two years of governance. People are disheartened with them.”
Mufti’s comments came in response to statements made by NC’s MLA from Zadibal, Tanvir Sadiq, who challenged her and her MLAs to swear on the Quran that they did not support the BJP during the Rajya Sabha elections held in Jammu and Kashmir last year.
An RTI (Right to Information) reply has surfaced, revealing that the PDP failed to appoint a chief agent for the Rajya Sabha polls, leading to allegations from the NC that the PDP’s three MLAs sided with the BJP in these elections. In the backdrop of these accusations, Mehbooba insisted that the ruling party was attempting to mislead the public.
“The National Conference is deliberately trying to divert attention from pressing issues that plague the state. Houses are being demolished under the guise of fighting drugs. Previously, similar actions occurred under the pretext of combating terrorism. Meanwhile, innocent employees face abrupt dismissals, and meritorious students endure unbearable times. Until now, this government has only acted as a passive observer to these injustices,” Mufti stated emphatically.
Mehbooba Mufti, a prominent political figure and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, urged the National Conference to politically engage with her party without involving religious texts. “Politics and religion must remain separate. While our fight is against governance failures, we do not require religious scriptures to validate our stance,” she asserted.
The political atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir remains tense, with ongoing accusations and counter-accusations between various parties in the run-up to future elections. As public disillusionment grows, political leaders are grappling with how to address pressing issues while maintaining voter support.
The PDP’s resolve to engage with substantial governance issues distinguishes them from the NC’s tactics, according to Mufti. “Our focus remains on the welfare of the people and resolving the crises they face daily, not engaging in unnecessary religious debates,” she concluded. (Agencies)
