Srinagar, Aug 7: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti on Friday reaffirmed her party’s demand for the restoration of Article 370 and Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, saying the PDP would continue its “peaceful battle” despite what she described as years of crackdown on the party. Her remarks came after she appeared at Kothi Bagh Police Station in Srinagar following a police summons.
Addressing reporters after cooperating with the police, Mufti alleged that the PDP had been singled out because it had consistently opposed the August 5, 2019, abrogation of Article 370.
“In Jammu and Kashmir, there has been only one party that has consistently spoken about Article 370, special status and the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status after 2019, and that is the PDP. The crackdown on the PDP over the past seven years is because we have continued to speak about Article 370.”
Referring to the events marking the anniversary of the constitutional changes, she said the BJP celebrated August 5 while the PDP regarded it as a day of mourning.
“While the BJP was taking out Tiranga rallies and celebrating, we wanted to observe it as a day of mourning. Even our right to mourn has been taken away.”
She recalled the security restrictions imposed in August 2019, saying Kashmir had been turned into “a jail” with a communications blackout.
“We know how Jammu and Kashmir was turned into a jail on August 5, 2019. There was a communication blackout. Phones were shut down. Like animals are kept in cages, Kashmiris were confined to their homes and our rights were taken away.”
Mufti alleged that Jammu and Kashmir’s flag, Constitution and special status had been revoked “illegally” and said the PDP had faced political consequences for opposing the move.
“Our party was broken because we kept raising our voice against the abrogation of Article 370.”
Drawing a distinction between the PDP’s position and that of other political parties, Mufti said her party would not limit its political demand to the restoration of statehood.
“The BJP talks about statehood. The National Conference also talks about statehood. But the PDP is very clear. We will continue to protest until Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, its flag and its Constitution are restored.”
She added: “We will peacefully keep protesting.”
Defending her appearance before the police, Mufti said she had fully cooperated with the investigation but insisted that the larger issue remained Article 370. “We are happy to cooperate with whatever the police want to know. But our larger issue is Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and Article 370.”
She maintained that demanding the restoration of Article 370 was a constitutional and democratic right. “This is not just Iltija Mufti’s issue, or Mehbooba Mufti’s issue, or the PDP’s issue. As an Indian citizen, I am entitled to fight peacefully for the restoration of Article 370.”
Mufti also said she was prepared to face imprisonment if necessary. “No matter what I have to do, even if I have to go to jail, I am ready. My fight is for every Kashmiri.”
She claimed that arbitrary detention had become commonplace in Jammu and Kashmir. “Arbitrary detention has become a rite of passage. Today I have experienced that in my own way.”
Rejecting calls to prioritise statehood over special status, Mufti said the PDP would not alter its core demand. “The BJP wants us to beg for statehood. We will not beg for statehood. We will take back Article 370, our flag and our Constitution.”
She thanked PDP workers from across Jammu and Kashmir who had gathered in support following the police summons.
Responding to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s recent remarks, Mufti accused him of avoiding the issue of Article 370 while targeting the PDP. “Omar Sahib repeatedly gives the BJP a clean chit. He does not talk about Article 370 or special status. During the election campaign he spoke about special status every day. Today it has become easy for him to target the PDP instead of speaking against the BJP.”
She further alleged that the PDP had faced greater political pressure than other parties because of its stand. “The PDP was broken. Mehbooba Ji was targeted because she consistently spoke against the abrogation of Article 370.”
Concluding her remarks, Mufti reiterated that the party’s campaign would continue until the constitutional changes made in August 2019 were reversed. “I am not anti-national. I am not committing an act of sedition. It is my right as an Indian citizen to peacefully wage a battle for the restoration of Article 370. We will not shift to the statehood narrative. Until Article 370 is restored, the PDP will keep fighting.”
