BJP turning Mahatma Gandhi’s India to Godse’s India: Mehbooba Mufti

Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Mehbooba Mufti has stated that Mahatma Gandhi’s India has become Godse India under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She said this in a press meet organised by the Indian Women’s Press Corps in New Delhi yesterday.

Mufti alleged that the BJP is running Jammu and Kashmir with a colonial mindset and J&K has become a laboratory for the BJP to “test whatever has to be done nationally”. She charged that the big pillars of democracy such as the media and the judiciary have also failed the people of J&K.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief backed the demand to repeal the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act, (AFSPA), from the areas where militancy has reduced. She said that repealing of AFSPA was part of the agenda with the BJP, when PDP formed a government with the BJP. We believe AFSPA should be repealed in areas where militancy is lesser, it can be a good beginning. We are in a democracy? How long can people be kept together by pointing guns at them?” she questioned.

She condemned the BJP government at the Centre for extending the jurisdiction of Border Security Force (BSF) in Punjab and West Bengal, where the BJP could not fight politically.

Mufti and her party are not alone in demanding the repeal of AFSPA. BJP’s allies like National People's Party (NPP) and Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), Chief minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio and Meghalaya CM Cornard Sangma have demanded repeal of the Act in the North East.

Mufti blamed the Centre for spreading a false narrative that the Jammu and Kashmir was progressing well after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution. She announced that she would not contest election personally till the time Articles 370 and 35-A of the Constitution are restored in the state.