Will raise voice for Article 370, resolution of J-K issues: PDP leader Iltija Mufti

Srinagar, October 12: Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party leader Iltija Mufti said on Friday that PDP will raise voice not only for restoration of statehood but also for Article 370 and for resolution of other issues” concerning the union territory.

Iltija Mufti, who lost the assembly elections from the Srigufwara-Brijbehara assembly constituency, extended her best wishes to NC-Congress as they form the government in Jammu and Kashmir after winning the polls.

“People came out in large numbers. NC-Congress have received a simple majority. They have good numbers. Now people expect them to deliver on the promises that they made. So, I hope they do that. People have expectations and hopes. I hope the new government is formed as soon as possible and we extend them our best wishes,” Iltija Mufti told ANI.

“We will raise our voice for Article 370 and the resolution of issues of J-K, not just only statehood. We are not among those parties that shift their goalpost. We will fight for the restoration and resolution of J-K issue,” she added.

She supported restarting Darbar Move, a bi-annual shift of the secretariat and all other government offices, between Jammu and Srinagar.

“Darbar Move was not just one of our cultural symbols, a lot of trade was also done,” she said.

Iltija Mufti, who is daughter of former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, also took a dig at BJP.

“They did not get the numbers. Their attempts through proxy parties here did not succeed. I hope that the BJP respects the mandate. If people have elected NC-Congress, BJP should respect that mandate,” she said.

The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) on Thursday unanimously elected Omar Abdullah as the leader of its legislative party.

National Conference-Congress alliance secured an absolute majority in the Union Territory by winning 48 seats, with the former taking 42 and the latter 6 seats.

This was the first election in Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 and the bifurcation of the state into two union territories.