SRINAGAR, May 6: Former Chief Minister and President of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti, has accused the National Conference (NC) of attempting to divert public attention from its governance failures by dragging religious scripture into political discourse.
Mufti expressed her concerns during a media briefing in Srinagar, asserting that the NC’s recent remarks about potential political allegiances with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were merely an effort to distract from its shortcomings. “For God’s sake, do not drag Quran into politics. They (NC) are doing this to hide their failures over the past two years of being in government. People are disheartened with them,” she stated.
This response emerged following a statement from NC MLA Zadibal and party spokesman Tanvir Sadiq, who challenged Mufti and her legislative assembly members to swear on the Quran, asserting they did not support the BJP in the recent Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
A recent Right to Information (RTI) response revealed that the PDP had not appointed a chief agent for the Rajya Sabha polls conducted in October last year. This has led to allegations from the National Conference that three of PDP’s MLAs supported the BJP during the election.
Mufti emphasized the need for political discourse to remain respectful and free from religious entanglement. She argues that the NC’s focus on religious scripture only highlights their attempts to avoid accountability for ineffective governance.
“Houses are being demolished under the garb of fighting drugs. Earlier, the same thing was done under the pretext of fighting terrorism. Employees are being summarily dismissed while open merit students are going through tormenting times. All this government has done so far is being a mute spectator,” Mufti added, illustrating the dire consequences of the NC’s policies on the people of Kashmir.
While the political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir continues to evolve, Mehbooba Mufti’s comments reflect the ongoing tensions between the PDP and NC. By emphasizing public issues and governance shortfalls, the PDP aims to position itself as a viable alternative to the ruling party.
Politically, Mufti’s statements resonate with many Kashmiris who feel the impact of current governance issues. Asserting that the NC should engage in political competition without involving religious narratives may resonate with a voter base eager for responsible governance.
In a political climate charged with scrutiny of party decisions and alliances, both the PDP and the NC continue to navigate public perceptions as they prepare for future electoral contests.
