CM, as Home Minister, 'responsible', says NC

JAMMU: Opposition National Conference today held Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti responsible for atrocities on the nomadic Gujjar and Bakerwal community. Prominent NC leaders, Mian Altaf, Javid Ahmed Rana and Devender Singh Rana today addressed media men here at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan Jammu and stated that it was Mehbooba Mufti responsible for persecution and growing incidents of violence against Gujjars and Bakerwals in Jammu.
"Being in-charge of the Home Ministry, Mehbooba failed in enforcing the rule of law and reining in the coalition partner BJP, which has let loose its different wings unleashing terror on minority community members," the NC leaders said. Senior NC leader, Mian Altaf said that the organized attack on 'hapless nomad family' in Reasi should not be viewed in isolation, as it is part of an orchestrated campaign against the Gujjars which is manifested in uprooting them from the land they have been inhabiting since decades.
Hitting out at the PDP, Mian Altaf wondered that the party which came to power on the plank of scrapping Task Force and ending atrocities of the police and security forces became perpetrators itself, which is evident by the prevailing grim scenario across the state, especially in the Valley.
He said the PDP and BJP were superintending terror against their own people to satiate the agenda of New Delhi. The present coalition is deliberately disturbing the situation so that the people are subjected to harassment and humiliation.
"The primary objective of the PDP-BJP is to remain glued to power, whatever the costs", he added.
Mian Altaf Ahmed described the Reasi incident as most barbaric wherein a 70-year old Gujjar was subjected to torture by an unruly mob inside the police station.
"Instead of acting against the perpetrators of violence, the police remained mute spectators which encouraged hooligans to pounce upon the elderly person like vultures, the senior NC leader said.
The former minister decried the muteness of police and questioned the rationale behind lodging FIR against the Gujjar family.
Mian Altaf said the BJP is hugely using the PDP to extend its agenda in Jammu and Kashmir, which is manifesting in atrocities on the people.
Replying to the question of reporters, former Deputy Chairman and MLA Mendhar Javed Rana described the PDP as an offshoot of the RSS that had been created years ago to do what they are doing currently in Kashmir and Jammu.
Provincial President, NC, Devender Singh Rana was also present in the press conference. He said National Conference will continue to espouse the cause of the people living in three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. He said the party stands for strengthening the bonds of amity between Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Buddhists.
"NC is committed to fight divisive forces", Devender Singh Rana added.