Srinagar, May 6: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti criticized the ruling National Conference (NC) for invoking religious scripture in political discourse. Mufti accused the party of attempting to divert public attention from its governance failures over the past two years. She asserted that the public feels disheartened and is losing faith in current leadership.
While addressing reporters in Srinagar, Mehbooba urged the National Conference to refrain from dragging the Quran into political matters. “For God’s sake, do not drag Quran into politics. They (NC) are doing this to hide their failures,” she stated emphatically. Her comments came in response to remarks made by MLA Zadibal and NC chief spokesman Tanvir Sadiq.
Sadiq had proposed that Mehbooba and her MLAs swear by the Quran, declaring that they did not vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the Rajya Sabha polls held in Jammu and Kashmir last year. This statement follows an RTI response indicating the PDP failed to appoint a chief agent for the elections.
The National Conference has alleged that the PDP’s three MLAs cast votes in favor of the BJP, intensifying the ongoing political rivalry in the region. In her reply, Mehbooba dismissed these accusations as a tactic to shift focus from the NC’s governance shortcomings.
“The NC government’s actions reflect chaos and mismanagement. Houses are being demolished under the guise of fighting drugs, an echo of earlier policies that claimed to combat terrorism,” Mehbooba observed. She expressed concern regarding the plight of employees who face summary dismissals and the distress experienced by students under the current regime.
Critically assessing the NC’s performance, she stated, “All this government has done so far is being a mute spectator.” Her remarks highlight a broader discontent among constituents regarding the performance and accountability of the ruling party.
The former chief minister concluded by affirming that while the NC is welcome to engage in political battles, it must do so without involving religious texts. Her passionate address resonates with wider fears among the electorate about the state of governance in Jammu and Kashmir.
