mehbooba-takes-recourse-to-party-slogan

Taking recourse to party’s inventive slogan, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti today asserted that the people of Kashmir now need a healing touch rather than a "muscular policy".

Mehbooba said this in context of government imposing ban on Awami Action Committee (AAC) and Ittihadul Muslimeen (IM) contending this action could be an arm-twisting tactic.

Noting that Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was being provided Z-Plus cover by the Centre, she said had he been an anti-national, he would not have been accorded such security.

The Centre on Tuesday banned the AAC, headed by Kashmir's influential cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Shia leader Masroor Abbas Ansari-led IM for five years for their alleged anti-national activities, supporting terrorism and fuelling secessionist activities.

PDP supremo’s statement expressively was in solidarity with the two leaders when she said, "Mirwaiz himself is a victim…. His father formed this party, he (Mirwaiz's father) was martyred. Similarly, Masroor Ansaris's IM, these are socio-political organisations. So, I fail to understand that on one hand, the Centre, understanding the sensitivity of Mirwaiz's security, provided Z-Plus category security to him, but on the other hand, his party is banned. I fail to understand how long will they continue their muscular policy," .

"Either the Centre is blackmailing both of them for something, to do this or that, and if they do not do that, then they take action. I do not know. I do not understand that on the one hand you give Z-Plus security to a person, but on the other hand, you ban his party," she said.

Mufti said such things should not happen, and the people of Kashmir now need a healing touch rather than a muscular policy while maintaining this was like arm twisting act. The former Chief Minister of J&K was speaking to media today and termed the government move as ‘big action’ against religious leaders.

"You (Centre) have used the muscular policy a lot, and the people now need a healing touch and a softer attitude. When you take such a big action against a religious head, then you hurt the sentiments of the people of Kashmir," she said.

Mufti said the people had expectations from the elected government that it would safeguard them, "but quite the opposite is happening".