Fighting LS polls for safeguarding art 35A: Mehbooba

Regional PDP president and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday claimed that her party was fighting the parliamentary polls for safeguarding the Article 35A of the constitution, which grants special rights to the people of the state.

“We are not contesting Lok Sabha elections for roads, electricity poles or water supply but for the protection of unique identity of the state,” she said while addressing party workers in southern Shopian district.

Taking a jibe at the Congress party for raising the pitch for the safeguard of Article 370, the PDP chief said that as chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad transferred hundreds of kanals of (forest) land to Amarnath shrine Board.

She also claimed that the PDP had already taken a lead over its opponents in the Anantnag district which went to polls on Tuesday. Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, comprising Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam and Anantnag districts, where from Mehbooba is contesting, is going to polls in three phases due to security concerns.

She also said that attempts were being made so that lesser number of people cast their ballot.

Earlier, the PDP chief led a protest rally in neighbouring Pulwama district against the ban on cross-LoC trade and demanded the immediate release of the incarcerated JKLF chairman Yasin Malik.

Security agencies have said that at least 10 Kashmiri militants, who crossed over to Pakistan and set up businesses with active support of the ISI, were involved in the cross-LoC trade which was recently suspended by the government of India.

She also demanded the revocation of the ban imposed on Jamaat-e-Islami, a politico-religious organisation declared as proscribed by the Center in February.

“Yasin Malik should be released immediately as he is really unwell. Also, members of the Jamaat-e-Islami should be released. On the other hand, Sadhvi Pragya on whom there are several serious accusations has been set free,” Mehbooba said.