Mehbooba Mufti Cautions Omar Abdullah Against Endorsing August 5 Decision
SRINAGAR, FEBRUARY 16: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to refrain from endorsing the August 5, 2019 decision while formulating business rules for the J&K Assembly.
In a strongly worded statement, Mehbooba warned that such an endorsement would legitimize the “illegal and unconstitutional” abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A carried out by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, many legal experts still believe Article 370 cannot be abrogated by any authority, including Parliament,” Mehbooba asserted. She further argued that while the BJP may refuse to restore these rights, India, as a nation, may eventually have to revisit the decision. “Any endorsement by the J&K government would weaken our claim and diminish the state’s position. We must keep the argument alive,” she added.
Calls for Dialogue and Confidence-Building Measures
Criticizing the BJP-led Union Government’s approach, Mehbooba reminded them of the understanding they demonstrated during the peak of unrest in J&K.
“Thousands of FIRs against stone-pelters were quashed, a Ramazan ceasefire was declared, and a high-powered delegation was sent to engage with the people, including separatists,” she said. Mehbooba acknowledged that while separatists refused the offer then, the government’s outreach reflected a more compassionate and pragmatic approach.
She urged the BJP to abandon its rigid stance, saying, “The façade of normalcy in J&K is enforced by agencies and draconian laws like the Public Safety Act (PSA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). This situation cannot last forever. The government must reconsider its approach and rebuild public trust through confidence-building measures.”
Economic Concerns and Trade Revival
Highlighting the economic distress in the region, Mehbooba called for the reopening of cross-LoC trade routes such as Uri-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot to boost the local economy.
“As Jammu is being increasingly sidelined, the Jammu-Sialkot route should also be revived to provide a market for local products,” she suggested. She also urged the government to revisit her vision document and the Agenda of Alliance, which emphasized dialogue and economic development.
Criticism of NC-led Government
Mehbooba questioned the National Conference (NC)-led government’s performance, asking, “What’s the difference between LG rule and the NC government?”
She alleged that the current administration has failed to end repression, pointing to ongoing crackdowns, property seizures, and the persecution of Jamaat-e-Islami members. “Kashmiri youth continue to languish in jails outside J&K under the UAPA and PSA, with no relief in sight,” she said.
Rising Unemployment and Bureaucratic Hurdles
Mehbooba also accused the government of ignoring critical issues, highlighting the skyrocketing unemployment rate and increasing bureaucratic hurdles that have made life difficult for ordinary citizens.
She criticized the government’s priorities, saying, “While they focus on opposing the alcohol ban, they ignore the dilution of Article 370 and the hollow promise of restoring statehood.”
“There’s no progress on resuming cross-LoC trade, banned organizations face no relief, and political space continues to shrink,” Mehbooba concluded, urging the government to adopt a people-centric approach and address the region’s economic and political challenges.
