Only PDP can fight BJP’s onslaught on J&K’s identity: Mehbooba Mufti

Srinagar, Sep 12: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti Thursday said that her party was the only party that could fight the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s onslaught on the identity, resources, and jobs of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

She said that when her party was in power, it took the people of J&K, especially south Kashmir, out of the difficult times when the area faced the worst impact of POTA and Special Task Force.

“For us, the challenge is the work done by the party in our previous tenure, for the development of J&K, especially south Kashmir. Can we do better than that? That is our challenge,” Mufti told reporters in Anantnag district of south Kashmir.

“The PDP represents the sentiments of the people of J&K, talks about them. The PDP is the only party which can fight the BJP's onslaught on our identity, lands, and jobs,” she said.

To a question about the release of Member of Parliament Engineer Rashid from Tihar jail on interim bail, Mufti said, “We hope the rest of our youth and poor people who are in jails are also released.”

About Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s promise of providing five lakh jobs if the party was elected to power in J&K, she said there was no comparison to the lies peddled by the BJP.

“They had said they would provide 2 crore jobs every year, but they have not even provided 1 crore jobs in the last 10 years. They do not have any compunction about telling lies,” Mufti said.