Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and People’s Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said that she will join the Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra when it reaches the Union Territory next month for a “better India”.
Accepting the the Congress’s invitation to join the Yatra, the PDP chief said that it is her “duty to stand with someone who has the courage to challenge fascist forces”.
“I’ve been formally invited to join Rahul Gandhi ji for his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Kashmir today. Salute his indomitable courage & I believe it is my duty to stand with someone who has the courage to challenge fascist forces. Will be joining him in his march towards a better India, Mufti said in a tweet.
The Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra will reach Jammu and Kashmir on January 20.
Bharat Jodo Yatra is an ongoing mass movement started by the Rahul Gandhi to counter BJP’s divisive political policies. The political experts in India however regard the move by Congress as an effort to regain and consolidate its political popularity.
The Mufti’s change of heart to join Congress in BJY has raised suspicions in Kashmiris, who believe the move as a lifesaving effort by PDP and highly compromising. Political experts are of the view that PDP may acquire marginal benefits but will seriously dent its reputation/ standing in Indian Administered Kashmir and Kashmir cause in the longer run.
BJP has created extreme political polarization in Indian Administered Kashmir through Gerrymandering, voting rights to outsiders and using ST status as political bribe to install its CM. The BJP’s coercive political tactics and highhandedness has disturbed the political scene in Indian Administered Kashmir, causing a panic in the local political parties’ leadership.
The decision of Mehbooba Mufti is also being referred as an effort to stay relevant (at personal level) in the political power game of Indian Administered Kashmir disregarding the enormous sacrifices of Kashmiris in their freedom struggle.
India after 2019 has systematically sidelined the true Kashmiri leadership by employing illegal actions like; arrests, trials on sedition charges, enforcing draconian laws UAPA. Kashmiri at present are completely deprived of the sincere leadership who can steer their peaceful freedom struggle to resolve the Kashmir dispute in line with UN resolution.
At this critical moment preferring personal interest over the future of Kashmiris will perplex the Kashmir cause and support Indian stance. The news has not been well received by masses in Kashmir who fear that such initiatives may unnecessarily drag/ entangle Indian Administered Kashmir in unnecessary political quagmire.
