NC resorting to hooliganism in south Kashmir parts: Iltija Mufti

Srinagar, Oct 10: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and the media adviser to party President Mehbooba Mufti, Iltija Mufti, on Thursday accused the J&K National Conference (NC) hooliganism in the south Kashmir parts saying that the NC workers have wreaked havoc in south Kashmir.

She, however, dared the NC workers and its leadership to do away with such sort of "hooliganism" or face action as per law.

Addressing the media persons in Srinagar, Iltija Mufti congratulated NC Vice President Omar Abdullah for being elected as the legislative leader and the Chief minister saying that NC has got this majority after the 1977 elections.

"But my question to Omar Abdullah is that has NC got this majority for hooliganism. Has it come to wreak havoc? For the past three days, I have been getting complaints that the workers in our Bijbehara, Khiram, Dachinipora and Wagama are being beaten. The elect MLAs have resorted to the hooliganism under the guise of celebrating NCs victory," Iltija Mufti said.

She said that four walls of PDP workers' houses are being broken down with stones while their livestock is being stolen as well. "The cow shed of a PDP worker in Wagama was also set on fire," she alleged.

She said that at the time of prayers, the NC workers burst crackers and abuse her and Mehbooba Mufti openly on streets.

"We do not have any problem if you abuse me and Mehbooba Ji. But if you dare to touch our PDP workers we will ensure that you are booked and FIRs are registered against you," Iltija Mufti warned. Iltija Mufti said PDP has won in four consecutive elections from Bijbehara but two days after winning the elections, the MLA Bashir Ahmad Veeri has given a free hand to his workers to create havoc in the area and resort to vandalism.

"I want to ask the new MLAs of south Kashmir in DH Pora, Kulgam, Bijbehara that have you won the election to wreak havoc there, do hooliganism, resort to vandalism and arson," she said.

The PDP leader said that when the officers of J&K police asked the new MLA of Bijbehara why he was not controlling the NC workers, he termed the hooliganism as celebration for their victory.

"If as an MLA you can't control the hooliganism of your workers, then I am worried about the people of Bijbehara because if a new MLA is doing this in two days of victory, I am scared of what they will do in five years," he said.

Iltija Mufti said that her workers were beaten and some were admitted in the hospital as well. "The NC is repeating what they did in 1979 when they burnt houses of workers of Mufti Muhammad Sayeed in Khiram and beat them up," she said.

She said that NC has not resorted to hooliganism in Bijbehara alone but in Kulgam, D H Pora and other areas as well. "NC is known for Gunda Raj, which we (PDP) tried to end because of which they never allowed opposition to flourish.

Iltija Mufti stated that she lost the election but will not leave the ground and will not allow NC's "culture of hooliganism". "I am not going to allow you (NC) to get away with it," she said.

She further warned that if NC did not stop this hooliganism then she would go to Bijbehara and take the matter into her hands. "There is an atmosphere of arson and I am asking NC to stop this hooliganism otherwise we will take them to task," Iltija Mufti said.

She apologised to the PDP workers of Bijbehara saying that they have campaigned for her during Assembly elections in difficult situations.