Mehbooba: Gandhi’s India is turning into Godse’s India
Accusing the BJP-ruled Central government of running the Jammu and Kashmir “like a colony”, former chief minister of J&K and the chief of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said the Central government is treating the state as “a laboratory for experiments to be replicated nationally.” She also backed the demand to repeal the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act from the areas where militancy has reduced.
Speaking to journalists at Indian Women’s Press Corps Mehbooba Mufti said repealing the AFSPA was a part of the agenda of the PDP when it formed government in coalition with the BJP in the erstwhile state. “It was a part of our agenda with the BJP. It wasn’t a secret. We believe AFSPA should be repealed in
areas where militancy is lesser, it can be a good beginning. We are in a democracy, how long can people be kept together by pointing guns at them?” she said. “This government will not think of it, they extended BSF jurisdiction in Punjab and West Bengal because they could not fight politically,” she said.
Demands for repeal of the AFSPA have come from several quarters, including BJP’s allies like National People's Party (NPP) and Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP). Chief minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio and Meghalaya CM Cornard Sangma have demanded repeal of the Act in the Northeast. On Tuesday, the demand was also raised in the Lok Sabha by NPP MP Agatha Sangma.
Mehbooba Mufti accused the Centre of spreading a false narrative of the state progressing well after the abrogation of Article 370. “I had to sit in protest at Jantar Mantar yesterday. The BJP is running J&K with a colonial mindset. J&K has become a lab for them to test whatever has to be done nationally,” she said while alleging that “Mahatma Gandhi’s India had become Godse’s India” under the current regime. She further said that the “big pillars of democracy” such as the media and the judiciary have also failed the people of J&K.
Mehbooba said she would not contest election personally till the time Articles 370 and 35-A are restored in the state.