Srinagar, May 6: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti condemned the ruling National Conference (NC) for allegedly using religious scripture to distract from its governance failures. The former chief minister stated this during a press conference in Srinagar.
Mufti’s remarks followed NC’s claims that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) should publicly affirm through the Quran that its members did not support the BJP in the Rajya Sabha elections last year. She emphasized, “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.”
The controversy arose amidst scrutiny of the PDP’s voting record. An RTI response revealed that the PDP did not appoint a chief agent for the Rajya Sabha elections held in October, leading to allegations from the NC that three of its MLAs voted in favor of the BJP. Mufti dismissed these claims as politically motivated.
In her remarks, she criticized the NC for seeking to deflect blame for its shortcomings. “Houses are being demolished under the garb of fighting drugs. Earlier, the same tactic was used under the pretext of combating terrorism. Employees face sudden dismissals, while students with open merit endure tormenting times,” she stated.
Mufti urged the ruling party to engage in political discourse based on facts rather than weaponizing religious sentiments. She pointed out that the NC should focus on improving governance instead of dragging sacred texts into political battles. “We welcome political competition, but it should not involve misusing religion,” she added.
The PDP leader expressed concern over the present government’s handling of various issues, indicating a growing discontent among the populace. Experts believe Mufti’s pointed critique aims to unite her supporters and draw attention to the administrative challenges faced by the current government.
As the political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir evolves, the exchange between the PDP and NC will likely intensify. With upcoming elections on the horizon, both parties are preparing to address voter concerns amidst rising tensions regarding governance and religious involvement in politics.
