Will not contest till J&K is UT: Mehbooba Mufti

Srinagar, Aug 10: PDP President Mehbooba Mufti today reiterated that she will not contest assembly polls till Jammu and Kashmir is a union territory (UT).

She was talking to a television news channel. Earlier, National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah too had announced not to fight assembly polls on the same grounds. Mehbooba said, “ I have said it earlier and I am saying it again.

I have contested assembly elections when Jammu and Kashmir was a stronger state than other states of the country. We had our own constitution and flag besides having the constitution of the country and flag.

Our state included Ladakh also and was not a union territory. Since 2019 they have destroyed the state and the assembly has been rendered like that of municipality.  For moving a bill in assembly the consent of Lieutenant Governor(LG) is important. A Chief Minister will not be having  powers. For shifting an IAS officer the consent of LG is important,” she said.

Mehbooba stated that there was no need foe Election Commission of India (ECI) to visit Jammu and Kashmir for announcing  assembly polls. “ They could have done it from New Delhi as they knew large number of people participated in recent parliamentary polls in J&K. There was no need to do the ‘ tamasha’.

They should not take the people for granted . If they have to conduct elections, they must and if they cannot, they must tell that also. Why they fear polls? Do they fear getting exposed. Elections is a normal  exercise and is being done in every state.  Assembly polls should have been done here six years ago,” she said.