‘Participation of JeI in polls welcome move, GoI should also lift ban on it’
Srinagar, Aug 28: With the political parties gearing up for the assembly polls, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief, Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday made it clear, saying that he won’t participate in the assembly, which has been reduced to the municipality.
Mehbooba was replying to a question posed by media persons during a press conference and was referring to the downgrading of erstwhile J&K state to the Union Territory.
“During my tenure as chief minister, I have ensured the withdrawal of 12,000 cases against the youth, ceasefire as well as inviting the separatists for talks, but since the assembly has been reduced to municipality, the chief minister at present would not be able to withdraw even a single case,” she said during the joining of Sheikh Gowher Ali, who has been given the mandate to contest from Zadibal constituency.
She also mentioned that the party has never forged a pre-poll alliance since its formation in the year 1999, adding that this time too, the party will go solo this time again. “We have formed the party with an aim to ensure peace with dignity in Jammu and Kashmir,” Mehbooba added.
In a separate joining event in which a journalist-turned-politician, Syed Tajamul Hussain joined the party in her presence, Mehbooba announced him as the party candidate from Bandipora constituency.
While replying to a query on Jamaat-e-Islami’s participation in the assembly polls, Mehbooba said that democracy is actually the battle of different ideas. “It is good that Jamaat is participating in the polls. They should not only participate in the polls, but the ban imposed on Jamaat should also be lifted by the Government of India,” she said.
