Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti claimed on Tuesday that certain groups are trying to “intimidate” and coerce people into voting for specific candidates in the Lok Sabha elections.
She accused one group of issuing religious fatwas (decrees) to threaten voters, while another group allegedly uses the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to exert pressure.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Mufti stated, “During my meetings with various delegations in Rajouri, I’ve noticed a disturbing atmosphere. Some groups are issuing religious fatwas, warning people that failing to vote for a particular candidate will condemn them to hell.”
“Meanwhile, another faction is using the BJP’s name to blackmail people. We’ve heard that several officers are being threatened with transfers unless they vote for a certain candidate. However, even the BJP knows that the candidates they’re backing are unlikely to secure enough votes to avoid losing their deposits,” she continued.
Mufti, the leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), is running for the Anantnag-Rajouri seat. Polling is set for May 25, with vote counting scheduled for June 4.
She also highlighted the severe issue of youth unemployment in the Union Territory. “There is a significant number of educated but unemployed youth. The unemployment rate stands at 35 percent. Despite the hype around the abrogation of Article 370, there has been no increase in recruitment,” she noted.
Interestingly, despite the PDP being part of the INDIA bloc, the National Conference has nominated Mian Altaf Ahmad to contest against Mufti for the same seat. This election is the first in Jammu and Kashmir since Article 370 was revoked on August 5, 2019.
Earlier on Sunday, Mufti appealed to the Kashmiri Pandit community to support her in the Lok Sabha elections, acknowledging the ‘trauma’ they endured during the mass exodus in the early 1990s insurgency.
She recalled her father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s efforts to maintain harmony between the majority and minority communities in Jammu and Kashmir. “I understand your pain. I know the sorrow of those who miss Kashmir. The beginning of this pain was from our home. My father believed in preserving the relationship between the majority and minority communities, and he worked hard to achieve this when he became Chief Minister. I grew up among Kashmiri Pandits and know how crucial it is for us to live together,” she stated during a public meeting with the Kashmiri Pandit community.
“I understand the trauma Kashmiri Pandits face as they wish to return to their homeland. Mufti Sahab was deeply saddened by their plight,” she added.
