Good that Pahari, Gujjar, Bakeral communities’ leaders supporting PDP: Mehbooba Mufti

Kulgam, April 24: PDP President Mehbooba Mufti today said that leaders from Pahari and Gujjar communities are extending support to her in Lok Sabha elections because PDP during its rule had taken significant steps for their welfare.

Senior BJP and Pahrari leader Syed Mushtaq Bukhari has urged people to vote for PDP. So has an ex-MLC Asgar Ali. Omar Abdullah had accused PDP of being C team of BJP since its Pahari leaders were supporting the party in polls.

Reacting to it Mehbooba Mufti said, “ It is not our fault if leaders from Pahari and Gujjar and Bakerwal communities support PDP.”

Talking to reporters in Kulgam district, she said that she had sought help from people across the political spectrum. “Whether they are people of NC, Congress or CPI(M), I have asked all of them to help me,”she said.

PDP President added that this time both Gujjar and Pahari communities had decided to help her as they remember how the “Mufti Sahab helped them in their difficult times”. She said that her party did not have any traditional vote bank. She, however, said that during the tenure of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed the party had served the people of Pir Panjal area.

“Mufti Sahab built Mughal Road, established Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University and took other welfare measures for people in Rajouri and Poonch,” Mehbooba said.

She said that what other political parties could not do in four decades, PDP did it in three years.

In response to a question regarding the NC’s allegations that PDP has joined the BJP as its “C team”, Mehbooba said that she had not castigated the NC in any of her rallies. “I say this is not a battle between NC and PDP. It is a battle for protecting our land and identity. If we do not send a fearless voice to the parliament, our existence is in danger,” she said.

Mehbooba also stated that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have realised the need to send a fearless voice to the parliament that could truly represent their sentiments. She said the INDIA bloc has unnerved the BJP.

“The people of Jammu and Kashmir have fallen silent. There has been a suffocative atmosphere and youth are being detained arbitrarily from Shopian, Kulgam and Bijbehara areas. Now people want to elect such a candidate that could truly represent them in the Lok Sabha,” she said.

She said that the support and manifesto of “INDIA alliances have upset the BJP”.

“ The manifesto talks about the creation of 30 lakh jobs, MSP for farmers and 50 percent reservation for women. All these things have unsettled the BJP”, Mehbooba said.

Meanwhile, Blikeesa Jan, JKAP DDC chairperson from Shopian also joined the PDP.