Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday reaffirmed the party’s core political agenda—including the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, dialogue on the Kashmir issue and reopening of cross-Line of Control (LoC) routes—while using the party’s 27th Foundation Day to explain and apologise for her recent remarks at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar that sparked political controversy.
Addressing a press conference at the PDP headquarters, Mufti said the party had withstood repeated political attacks since its inception but remained committed to the vision of its founder, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
“I am happy that the vision and ideology given by Mufti Sahib continue to guide the PDP,” she said.
She said district-level Foundation Day celebrations had been deferred because of recent heavy rains, flood-like conditions in parts of Jammu and Kashmir and disruptions caused by the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.
Congratulating party workers for standing by the PDP despite sustained political pressure, Mufti said, “Despite completing 27 years, our party has repeatedly come under attack. We have faced countless assaults, but our workers and colleagues have stood firmly with us and remained part of this struggle.”
Reaffirms PDP’s Kashmir roadmap
Reading out resolutions adopted by the party, Mufti said the PDP’s primary objective remained securing a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue.
“The first and foremost commitment of the PDP—the very reason for its existence—is to seek a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue. Along with that, we remain committed to the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, the identity of Jammu and Kashmir, and the restoration of statehood,” she said.
Invoking Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s vision of “peace with dignity”, she stressed the need for dialogue, reconciliation and confidence-building measures.
“If Mufti Sahib’s slogan of ‘peace with dignity’ is to become a reality, then dialogue, reconciliation and confidence-building measures are essential,” she said.
Mufti also reiterated the party’s demand for the restoration of cross-LoC travel and trade.
“We want these historic routes—whether across the Line of Control or elsewhere—to be reopened for travel, trade and communication. We will continue our struggle for this objective.”
She urged the Centre to reopen the Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot trade routes and sought access to the Sharada Peeth shrine in Pakistan-administered Kashmir for Kashmiri Pandit pilgrims.
Seeks review of PSA and UAPA detentions
The PDP chief called for a review of political detentions under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), alleging that many undertrials continued to remain incarcerated despite little progress in their cases.
“Many undertrials have been kept in prison under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) without their cases progressing,” she said.
She further argued that individuals granted bail should not continue to remain behind bars.
“Until their guilt is established in a court of law, they should be released on bail.”
Mufti also advocated reducing the Army’s presence in areas where militancy had declined.
“We also believe that in areas where militancy has significantly declined—as the Government of India itself repeatedly claims—there is no justification for such a heavy deployment of the Army.”
Raises power, resource and regional demands
Mufti accused the government of allowing outside contractors to exploit Jammu and Kashmir’s natural resources while residents continued to bear high electricity costs despite the region’s hydroelectric potential.
“Our greatest natural resource is water, which is used to generate electricity that is supplied across the country. Yet the people of Jammu and Kashmir themselves are forced to pay exorbitant electricity bills,” she said.
She demanded either greater compensation for the Union Territory’s power resources or the transfer of at least two hydroelectric projects to Jammu and Kashmir.
Mufti also renewed the PDP’s demand for a separate administrative division for the Pir Panjal region and reiterated the party’s commitment to the “dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits.”
Announces August 5 protests
Referring to the constitutional changes of August 5, 2019, Mufti announced peaceful protests across Jammu and Kashmir.
“August 5 is the day on which everything was taken away from us,” she said, adding that PDP workers in every district would hold demonstrations seeking the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A and a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue.
Responds to criticism over Jantar Mantar remarks
A substantial part of the press conference was devoted to Mufti’s defence of her recent remarks at Jantar Mantar and what she described as the personal and political consequences of raising Kashmir-related issues.
“I have already paid a heavy price for doing so, and so has my party,” she said.
Mufti alleged that her daughter Iltija Mufti’s passport had been blocked, her elderly mother and brother questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), one sister’s bank accounts in the United States frozen and another sister’s accounts in Chennai also frozen.
“As for me, I was repeatedly summoned by the ED, evicted from my house, and subjected to every kind of pressure. Yet I have continued to stand by the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” she said.
She added that her political standing was earned through public trust rather than family legacy.
“I did not receive a crown from my father or grandfather. Whatever I have today, after Allah, has been given to me by the people of this land.”
Says remarks were misconstrued, apologises
Explaining the controversy over her comments at Jantar Mantar, Mufti said she had attended the protest at the request of Kashmiri students studying outside Jammu and Kashmir, who often faced harassment following militant attacks.
During an interaction with journalists, she had used the word bahana (excuse) while referring to militancy—a remark that drew sharp criticism.
“I said that militancy becomes a bahana (an excuse). I did not use that word accidentally or in haste. I thought about it before saying it,” she said, while maintaining that the remark was later interpreted differently from what she intended.
“That single word was blown completely out of proportion.”
Drawing parallels with criticism she faced in the late 1990s while raising human rights issues during her Congress days, Mufti accused political rivals of trying to undermine her credibility.
“I never accumulated wealth, built lavish houses, bought expensive cars or lived a life of luxury. Instead, I built a relationship of trust and credibility with the people, and every effort is being made to damage that credibility,” she said.
While insisting that the widely circulated video of her remarks was genuine, Mufti said her choice of words had been misunderstood because she had been responding to multiple questions in quick succession.
“I am not saying that the video circulating on social media is fake. No, the video is genuine.”
“But the expression that ‘it becomes an excuse’ slipped into my remarks. I was speaking continuously to many people, and that phrase was interpreted differently from what I intended.”
Concluding the press conference, Mufti apologised if her remarks had hurt public sentiment.
“If my words, or the fact that my statement remained incomplete, caused pain or hurt the sentiments of my people, then I sincerely apologise.”
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir consider me one of their own. Even a small mistake on my part upsets them, and therefore I seek their forgiveness if they felt hurt.”
