After Article 370 abrogation, Delhi micro-managing J&K’s politics, says Iltija Mufti

‘For every Kashmiri 10 armed personnel deployed for surveillance’

Jammu: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter Iltija Mufti on Monday asserted that New Delhi (Government of India) is micro-managing Jammu and Kashmir' politics and hold full control over political activities post abrogation of Article 370.
In an exclusive interview with The News Now channel head Faheem Tak, Iltija Mufti said real politics is missing in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of article 370.
“The politicians fail to play their real role and that is interacting with people and addressing their issues. If you say that organizing seminar and holding close door meetings with one party in morning and another in evening is politics then it might happening but after abrogation of 370 real politics is missing,” she said adding, “If Mehbooba Ji wish to hold rallies or offer condolence to someone, our gates had been locked.”
Junior Mufti further said that Delhi is micro-managing the politics of Jammu and Kashmir.
“After turning Jammu and Kashmir into UT (union Territory) Delhi is micro-managing the politics here. Which politician has to play what role has been dictated by Delhi as director of puppet show,” she asserted and added that adding and subtraction, forming new parties is not politics.
Moreover, Iltija said that the government of India is trying to create a new ecosystem for political activities.
“GoI thriving such political parties which carry forward its narrative like parrot and praising the abrogation of Art 370 and ‘Naya Kashmir, which I failed to see,” she said adding, “GOI wanted that traditional parties like PDP and others would take space in Hurriyat. They have been continually pushed towards that space and being projected in an anti national and seditious way. I don’t think that real politics is going on here and people are suffering, which is the most unfortunate part.”
Relying on restoration of Article 370, the junior Mufti said, “History is full of struggle. I am not talking here about some philosophy but Gandhi ji (Mahatma Gandhi) has fought a long non violent battle very beautifully and forced Britishers to bend to their knees. I think violence is not the solution and if we resist in a non violent way we will get it back”.
“The abrogation was illegal and unconstitutional; we are not demanding something which is not out of our constitutional rights,” she said.
Furthermore, she further said that everyone wants to speak over Article 370 but some people have compulsion.
“They might have done something wrong and have fear of ED and CBI but my family carries an impeccable record. My mother doesn’t do a corruption of even 2 rupees, but my grandmother and mother were called by ED. The government has tried to change the goal post so that people beg for one or other thing and yes people are now demanding statehood,” she said.
They did not want to take a plunge into politics under the prevailing “terrified” atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir.
On the government's claims of peace, the junior Mufti said, “Reduction in stone-pelting and tourism growth are two parameters of the government to show peace, which is wrong as many civilians got killed in the last 2-3 years. Target killing has increased by 20 percent. Non local bankers, police personnel, Kashmiri pandits, Dogras lost their lives to achieve the façade of normalcy. There is no sense of security. Surveillance has increased manifold. People denied to offer namaz, Jama Masjid locked on every Friday, which normalcy the government has achieved? She questioned and said, 10 lakh personnel of armed forces have been deployed in Kashmir. There are 10 armed personnel for every Kashmiri.
On welcoming figures of Amarnath pilgrims and other activities in Kashmir, she said that they don't follow extravagant activities carried out by the LG office.
“Many youths have been in jails under PSA and UAPA, even journalists are not free to raise their voice, many are facing trials and lodged in jails, what kind of normalcy is this?
“People even put in jails before they speak something, our own premises have become a virtual jail,” she said and added that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir remains the same until it has been not addressed with human trial and political approach.”
On joining politics, Iltija said there are many politicians in Jammu and Kashmir. We are facing so much turbulence as many things have been snatched away from us, I don’t think it's the right time to join politics.”
“I am not scared of anyone. Whenever I want to join I will but not this time,” she said.
On youth she said that, “Future of Jammu and Kashmir has been snatched. Whether its FAA, or other jobs lists has been cancelled, jobs are given to outsiders, the entire system is run by Babus (bureaucrats) , who enjoy so much power and don’t want to give it away,” she said.
Lastly on the future of PDP, she said that the party is guided by some principles. In politics there was always a high and low time. Even Indra Gandhi had faced a very low time. But we will rise with trump.
Updated On 10/6/2022 1:10:19 PM