Srinagar: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti released her party manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections on Friday (April 19), promising action against what she called 'anti-people' policies.
Mufti stated that Jammu and Kashmir has been 'converted into an open prison' following the abrogation of Article 370.
During a press conference, she said, 'The Government of India's unilateral decision to abrogate Article 370 is unacceptable to the people of Kashmir.'
She continued, 'All our resources—water, electricity, minerals—are being sold to outside states. Since August 2019, J&K has been turned into an open-air prison after the illegal abrogation of Article 370. There has been an unrelenting assault on our collective identity, land, jobs, and resources, as well as our very freedom to speak.'
Mufti also lamented the impact on Kashmir's horticulture sector, stating, 'Kashmir's economic backbone, horticulture, has also been suffering. Instead of providing relief, the policies of this administration have further undermined it.'
“Even, our youth are being jailed without any proof,” she said further.
'There has been an unending onslaught on our collective identity, land, jobs, and resources, as well as an infringement upon the very freedom to speak.'
Mufti concluded by stating the urgent need to address these issues in parliament. 'From drastic changes to state subject and land laws to the outsourcing of our resources by gifting contracts to outsiders, even developmental projects are being handed over to non-locals,' she added.