PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, while starting the membership drive of her party, has told her supporters she would become the Chief Minister only if she feels she will be able to stop human rights violations in Kashmir. Mehbooba said she will assume power only if she is able to control the security forces and the Special Operations Group (SOG), a demand that borders on separatism.
Mehbooba Mufti is worried that her base in Kashmir is shrinking in the wake of the arrest of hundreds of youths, including PDP workers, from different areas by the police and its counter-insurgency wing, SOG. The PDP stand has increased the suspense over the chances of forming government with ally BJP.
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of the National Conference has asked New Delhi to restore the terms of accession to J&K. Omar said the accession was done with New Delhi only in matters of currency, communication, defence and foreign affairs. He urged New Delhi to go by these terms and restore trust. “Accession has happened on certain terms and conditions and it is your (New Delhi) responsibility to maintain that,” Omar told a gathering of people at Soura on the death anniversary of former general secretary of the National Conference, Sheikh Nazir Ahmad.
He alleged that Mehbooba was just trying to get more money from Centre and was not interested in the political rights of the people of J&K.