Thanks Budgam voters, says post-Delhi attack raids are stoking fear among innocent residents
Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar, Nov 14 : People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said, while the party’s win in the Budgam bypolls is a moment of happiness, the celebrations remain muted in the wake of the recent Delhi tragedy that claimed several lives and plunged the entire nation into grief.
Speaking during her visit to Budgam, Mehabooba Mufti speaking with repoters, as per the news agency–Kashmir News Corner (KNC), expressed deep gratitude to the people of the constituency for reposing faith in the PDP and in Agha Muntazir Sahib.
She said that despite being “ignored by the government and its 50 MLAs,” the people placed their trust in the party.
Mehbooba Mufti also, prayed for strength and courage for the newly elected leader, adding that Agha Muntazir is an educated representative whose “doors will always remain open” and who will “serve the people wholeheartedly.”
However, the PDP chief stressed that the Delhi incident has cast a shadow over the Valley. She said the repercussions are strongly felt in Kashmir, where widespread raids are underway. Mehbooba shared that the PDP is not opposed to action against those genuinely involved, but said the prevailing atmosphere of arrests and crackdowns is creating fear among ordinary civilians.
Recalling Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks that “the law will take its course” and “strict action will be taken,” she said that while the PDP, too, supports strict action, it must remain within legal boundaries. She added, the demolition of homes of elderly parents unconnected to the incident and the indiscriminate arrest of friends and acquaintances, calling such measures “excessive, unlawful and unjust.”
She also urged authorities to ensure that the tragedy in Delhi does not become a justification for punishing innocents in Kashmir.—
