Mehbooba Mufti has lost people’s trust, says former PDP leader

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) veteran Surinder Choudhary, who was the party’s state general secretary till last year, joined the BJP this week and termed PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti as two-pronged. The former MLC was credited with winning the Hindu-majority Nowshera seat to the PDP in the District Development Council (DDC) elections and was considered the Hindu face of the PDP in Jammu. In an interview with Prerna Katiyar, Choudhary said that Mufti says one thing when she is in power and another when she is not. Part:

So why did you join BJP?

I had left PDP a year ago. I was the general secretary of the party. When (former CM, PDP founder and Mehbooba Mufti’s father) Mufti (Mohammed Sayeed) sahib was there, he cared about party workers. Ever since Mehbooba ji took over, the workers started leaving one by one because they don’t care and ignore the leaders of Jammu. She focuses only on Kashmir; All his statements are anti-Jammu and anti-national. It hurt me because I had to fight nowshera in Jammu. It was because of me that she was able to win a Hindu dominated place like Nowshera. In 2019, when Article 370 was abrogated and she went to jail, I took forward the party’s cause. In the DDC elections, in Nowshera, we defeated the BJP candidate and made the PDP president win the PDP mandate – we are talking of a Hindu majority area here which was a remarkable achievement. But when she came out she ignored us and forced us to leave the party.

Why did I join BJP? Jammu and Kashmir is passing through a critical phase. People have lost faith and there is a need to unite Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh; There is a need for brotherhood among Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Buddhists. I realized that only BJP can do this. Modi-Shah is the only strong leadership now. They have the guts to solve the issues of the region. I want to reiterate that I have neither joined for personal gain nor for political gain.

What are the major issues in your field?

Rajouri and Poonch are some of the most backward regions. A lot needs to be done on power supply, roads, schools and hospitals. We don’t even have a four lane road. There are good prospects from tourism point of view. Despite the high potential, there is no industry in the region.

Didn’t you protest when Article 370 was abrogated?

No, that’s not true. I said okay you have removed 370 but like in Himachal Pradesh and other states where people from outside cannot buy land or take local jobs, similar security measures need to be given in the area. necessary so that local interests are taken care of. Of.


So, are you in favor of cancellation?

Well it was bound to happen. It (repeal) was just a formality. But I think there is a need to win the trust of the local people – their lands should not be grabbed and their jobs should not be taken over by outsiders.

You were seen as the Hindu face of PDP and now you are part of BJP. But the Jats of your area are unhappy with the process of delimitation as their area of ​​residence is being marked for Scheduled Castes. Are you happy with the way the commission works?

I know Suchetgarh in RS Pura is Jat dominated and is now reserved for SC (Scheduled Castes). But this is the work of an independent body and what can we do about it. Something similar happened in Ramgarh. What is against Jats in this region is that their population is scattered. Their areas have gone for reservation, hence there is resentment. However, they have the right to express their views. I think Jats are with BJP. What can the commission do if the population of SC is more than that of Jats as this exercise is done on merit basis. No one can stop them.

Look, there are places where some people have faced discrimination. However, I do not want to give you examples. If I give an example, others will have problems. But I know there are problems with the commission. Let’s see what they do after all.

Talking about ‘The Kashmir Files’, do you think the present government is doing a lot for Kashmiri Pandits?

The central government has launched several schemes especially for their employment and rehabilitation. I haven’t seen the film. The problem is that the leadership in Kashmir does not know what they should talk about and what they should keep silent on. Who can deny that injustice has been done to Kashmiri Pandits.

And it is also true that nationalist Muslims who loved India and swore by Indian flags were killed. However, today’s leadership should refrain from making divisive statements just for the purpose of garnering votes. These votes will not unite people, nation and will not strengthen democracy. You should make such statements which promote brotherhood in J&K. Every day you wake up and hear him making statements on Kashmiri Pandits and Pakistan. Have you ever seen Mehboobaji protesting for Bijli-Pani-Makan-Shiksha (Bijli-Pani-Ghar-Shiksha)? The same Mehbooba ji used to say when she was the CM why these boys go to the camps of Kashmiri Pandits – just to get toffee and milk, and now that she is out of power, she is feeling the pain of Kashmiri Pandits.

The official agenda of the PDP has been “Na Grenade Se, Na Goli Se, Baat Banega Boli Se”, can Mehbooba Mufti lay her hand on her heart and say that she is still living by the words of her late father? When she was CM, do you know how many pellet guns were used in J&K and young boys picked up stones?

Originally published at Pen 18