Will continue to observe Oct 31 as ‘black day’ till special powers of J-K not restored: Mehbooba Mufti

Anantnag, Oct 31: People's Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti said on Thursday that her party would continue to observe the Union Territory (UT) Foundation Day as a black day till the special powers of the erstwhile state were not restored.

"... I want to tell Governor Sahab that for Jammu and Kashmir and especially for the PDP, today is a black day. We will continue to observe it as a black day until the special powers of Jammu and Kashmir are not restored, "Mehbooba Mufti told reporters in Anantnag.

"I've said this earlier too that J&K has become a laboratory for BJP...They want to give a message to the minority in the country...," Mehbooba Mufti added.

Earlier in the day, J&K LG Manoj Sinha questioned Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other National Conference (NC) leaders for not attending the sixth Union UT Foundation Day celebrations on Thursday.

In his statement, Sinha underlined the significance of observing UT Day, noting that J&K's current status as a Union Territory is a reality.

"This is not the first time we are celebrating this day. The elections in JK just finished a few days back...Everyone cannot come to attend the event but Jammu and Kashmir is a Union Territory as of date and we will have to accept this fact. PM Modi and Union HM Amit Shah also said the delimitation first, Assembly elections second and then statehood at an appropriate time. When PM Modi came here on Yoga Day, he said that Assembly elections will be conducted soon and then the status of statehood will be given to J&K," Sinha said.