Srinagar, Aug 30 (UNI) Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Friday hit out at the National Conference saying she was surprised that the latter views J&K as their personal fiefdom.
Mufti was responding to NC Vice President Omar Abdullah’s comment on banned Jamat-e-Islami that fielded their former workers as Independent candidates in the upcoming Assembly election.
Omar, while welcoming their participation, had said that till recently it was haram (prohibited) and now it was considered halal (permissible) by them.
“I’m astonished that the National Conference views J&K as their personal fiefdom. It is they who started this halal and haram system in Jammu & Kashmir,” the former Chief Minister told reporters in Srinagar.
She said the election was halal when NC founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was chief administrative officer .
“ When he (Sheikh Abdullah) became Prime Minister it was halal . When he was removed, elections were haram for 22 years… In 1975, the election was against halal… In 1987, it was they who made the elections haram for Jamat or other parties. In 1987 they rigged the elections to prevent any alternative forces from emerging. They prevented other parties from contesting the polls… Now, if Jamaat-e-Islami wants to participate in elections, it’s a positive development,” Mufti said.
PDP president said that democracy is a battle of ideas and the government should lift the ban on Jamat and restore their seized properties and institutions.
“The National Conference’s stance on elections is hypocritical – they consider elections halal when they’re in power, but haram when they’re not,” she said.
At least four former members of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami have filed nominations for the first phase of Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir scheduled for next month. Their participation is being seen as a major ideological shift of the socio-religious group.
