Mehbooba Mufti Urges High Voter Turnout in Crucial Jammu and Kashmir Elections

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and candidate for the Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary segment, Mehbooba Mufti, addressed the media today after visiting her father’s grave at Dara Shukoh, Bijbehera. She described the ongoing elections in Jammu and Kashmir as a pivotal moment for the region’s residents to make their voices heard in parliament.

Mufti stressed the importance of dissenting against the disempowerment experienced since August 5, 2019. Accompanying her were Party Youth President Waheed ur Rehman Parra, former MP Fayaz Ahmad Mir, District President Adv Sheikh Javaid, Party Spokesperson Najmu Saqib, State Secretary Arif Laigaroo, Parvez Waffa, Aditya Gupta, Mohd Altaf, and many others.

Citing the significant voter turnout in the Srinagar and Baramulla parliamentary polls, Mufti highlighted the political maturity and foresight of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. She drew attention to the plight of thousands of Kashmiri youths imprisoned outside the region, whose parents struggle with legal challenges. “This election is about those youth – to get them freed,” she declared.

Mufti emphasized the necessity of high voter turnout, cautioning against efforts by the BJP and its allies to suppress participation. “The BJP-led administration and its operatives in Kashmir are trying hard to discourage voting because they know the votes will go to the PDP,” she said.

In response to questions, Mufti criticized the National Conference’s (NC) recent actions, accusing them of betrayal. She expressed disappointment in Dr. Farooq Abdullah, whom she had trusted, for undermining the Political Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD). “We nurtured the PAGD for four years, and NC dismantled it in one stroke. I hoped Farooq Abdullah would make decisions as the leader of the alliance, but he acted as NC President, prioritizing party politics over the greater cause,” Mufti remarked.

She urged the people of Anantnag and Rajouri to vote in large numbers, stating that their vote would stand against the 2019 decisions and send a clear message demanding the restoration of their rights.