Striking a “discordant” note in her maiden press conference after her 14 month long detention ended, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief and former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday crossed 'lakshman rekha' while claiming she would not raise the national flag until Jammu & Kashmir's flag, constitution and the special status were restored.
Attacking the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) led Union government at the centre Mehbooba openly challenged them too by claiming “country will run on the Constitution and not on the BJP’s manifesto”.
Sitting in front of the flag of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir in the lawns of her Gupkar residence, Mehbooba said “those who feel we have abandoned Kashmir are mistaken”. Taking another dig at the centre she made another provocative remark 'dacoits snatched our flag'.
When Mehbooba Mufti was asked whether she was going to hold the Tricolor, she claimed, “My flag is this (pointing to the J&K flag on the table). When this flag comes back, we’ll raise that flag (Tricolour) too. Until we get our own flag back, we won’t raise any other flag…This flag forged our relationship with that flag. Our relationship with the flag of this country is not independent of this flag (Jammu and Kashmir’s flag). When this flag comes in our hand, we will raise that flag too”.
Commenting on the prevailing political scenario in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the role of the BJP led centre government Mehbooba Mufti said, “The people of J&K are expendable to them (Centre), what they want is territory.”
“They say you can buy land in J&K, we've abrogated Article 370. Then they said they will give free vaccines. Today, PM Modi had to speak of Article 370 for votes. This government has failed to solve the issues of this nation”. She said, the Constitution she believed in has been desecrated. “We need to unite and then only we can fight, no doubt we might face difficulties”.
Referring to the Abrogation of Article 370 Mehbooba said, “On August 5, 2019 a dacoity took place and the Government of India snatched our special status illegally, undemocratically and unconstitutionally”. She went on to claim, “a robber may be mighty but he has to return the stolen goods”. “They demolished the constitution of India. Parliament had no power to take away our special status. Dictatorship will not continue for long”, angry Mehbooba pointed out.
Responding to some tough questions posed by the local media persons, Mehbooba Mufti said, “I will not hesitate to give my blood for the restoration of special status. “Now it is time for leaders to sacrifice for the cause.
