Srinagar, Aug 4: Describing the eve of August 5 as “a dark night” in Jammu and Kashmir’s history, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday announced that she would stay the night at the party headquarters, fearing house arrest or detention ahead of Wednesday’s protests marking the anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370. She said the people of Jammu and Kashmir would continue their struggle until Articles 370 and 35A were restored and the Kashmir issue found a peaceful resolution.
“Tonight is a dark night for Jammu and Kashmir. We have come out to protest because it was on this night that a conspiracy was carried out and the special position that the Constitution of this country had given to Jammu and Kashmir—not China, not Pakistan—was taken away,” Mufti said.
Mufti said the PDP would continue its agitation until the constitutional provisions were restored and the Kashmir issue was resolved peacefully.
“We will not remain silent until there is a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir issue and the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A. This is about our identity,” she said.
Taking aim at political discourse centred on statehood, she said, “Many people keep talking only about statehood so that people forget everything else.”
She also alleged that ordinary people continued to bear the brunt of security measures following militant attacks.
“When a constable is martyred, why are thousands of people jailed? Yesterday, two labourers from Chhattisgarh were killed. After that, thousands were again detained. Militants have fled their homes, but their family homes are demolished and employees are dismissed from their jobs. Thousands of our people are in jail. Nobody talks about it,” she said.
Questioning the government’s claims of normalcy, Mufti asked: “If they claim the situation has improved, then why don’t they send the Army back to the barracks? Why can’t civilians live freely? Why is there so much oppression?”
She maintained that the abrogation of Article 370 remained unacceptable to the people of Kashmir. “The people are silent, frightened and intimidated. But no Kashmiri can accept the end of Article 370 because it protects our identity, our land and our jobs. We will fight for it till our last breath,” she said.
During the protest, Mufti also criticised the alleged handling of demonstrators by the police, claiming a woman officer had manhandled her daughter, Iltija Mufti. “If she herself is a woman and laid hands on Iltija’s clothes, then she has made a very serious mistake. We were protesting peacefully,” she said.
Explaining the display of both the Indian tricolour and the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state flag, Mufti said: “Both these flags are ours. Both were given to us by the Constitution of this country. One flag was kept and the other was snatched away. Until it is restored, and until there is a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir issue, our struggle will continue.”
Mufti, however, said the restoration of Article 370 alone would not resolve the conflict. “I do not speak only about Article 370. We had Article 370 before as well, yet thousands of people were killed and enormous property was destroyed. Jammu and Kashmir is a political issue. India and Pakistan should talk to their people, address their grievances, restore what was taken from us, and allow Jammu and Kashmir to live with dignity,” she said.
Mufti said she would remain at the PDP headquarters overnight and protest there on Wednesday amid apprehensions that she could be placed under house arrest or detained ahead of the August 5 anniversary of the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
