SRINAGAR : Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Monday criticized the National Conference (NC) government, led by Omar Abdullah, for allegedly aligning itself with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) policies in Jammu and Kashmir.
The former Chief Minister accused the NC of endorsing the BJP’s decisions over the last six years, particularly the annulment of Article 370 in August 2019.
“Regrettably, the ruling party, which secured a sweeping mandate, appears to be an extension of the BJP’s ideology concerning Jammu and Kashmir. The unconstitutional actions we once opposed now seem to be embraced by the National Conference, as if they are competing to validate them,” Mufti stated at a press briefing in Srinagar.
She expressed discontent with the Lieutenant Governor’s address at the Budget Session’s opening, pointing out its failure to acknowledge the disempowerment of Jammu and Kashmir’s people.
“The NC claims to have introduced a resolution for restoring Article 370, yet there was no mention of it in the Lieutenant Governor’s speech. The administration has not even mustered the courage to discuss it. What more needs to be said?” she remarked.
Taking a swipe at Omar Abdullah, Mufti argued that while no one expected him to emulate Delhi’s former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, he should at least defend the rights of his people.
“Omar Abdullah says he doesn’t aspire to be Kejriwal. Nobody is asking him to be. But for heaven’s sake, stand up for your people’s rights,” she said.
She further criticized the BJP for continuously raising the issue of Article 370’s revocation, even when it lacked power, and challenged Omar Abdullah to do the same.
“Omar Sahib asks how he can restore Article 370 from the BJP. If the BJP could discuss its removal for 70 years without being in power, the least you can do is challenge its legality,” she asserted.
Mufti said people had voted for Omar Abdullah, expecting his administration to address concerns such as disempowerment, land rights, natural resources, and employment.
“I never expected the NC to perform miracles in four months, but they should have at least voiced these pressing issues,” she stated.
She added that apart from Article 370 and the restoration of statehood, Jammu and Kashmir’s citizens are grappling with multiple challenges.
According to Mufti, her party has introduced several bills and hopes for cross-party unity to resolve these significant issues.
Meanwhile, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti directed her party’s legislators to ensure that their resolution on July 13 is prioritized in the Assembly session.
The resolution seeks to reinstate July 13 as a gazetted holiday, commemorating Martyrs’ Day in Kashmir. Previously recognized as a public holiday in the erstwhile state, official observances ceased following the revocation of Article 370 in 2019.
PDP insists that July 13 marks the dawn of political consciousness among Kashmiris in their quest for democratic rights. The date holds historical significance as it marks the 1931 massacre of 22 protestors during demonstrations against the Dogra monarchy’s “repressive rule,” Mufti said.
A senior PDP leader remarked, “These martyrs symbolize Kashmir’s long struggle against colonial and authoritarian dominance, fighting for democracy and constitutional freedoms.”
He lamented that Martyrs’ Day, which was traditionally commemorated, has gradually been erased from public memory, especially under the Union Territory’s governance. The leader contended that the holiday’s revocation was a calculated effort to diminish its significance.
PDP views this move, which ignited widespread discontent, as part of a broader attempt to reshape the region’s political discourse and suppress historical symbols of democratic resistance.
Restoring the day’s official recognition, he added, is crucial for Kashmiris, reinforcing their history and enduring demand for democratic rights.
Following party directives, a PDP legislator has formally submitted a resolution seeking to reinstate July 13 as an official holiday in Jammu and Kashmir, as it was before August 2019.
