Only PDP can fight BJP’s onslaught on J&K’s identity: Mehbooda Mufti

Srinagar, Sep 12 (PTI) Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti Thursday said her PDP is the only party that can fight the BJP’s onslaught on the identity, resources and jobs of the people of the Union Territory.

She said when her People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was in power, it took the people of J-K, especially south Kashmir, out of the difficult times when the area faced the worst impact of POTA and Special Task Force.

“For us, the challenge is the work done by the party in our previous tenure, for the development of J-K, especially south Kashmir. Can we do better than that? That is our challenge,” she told reporters in Anantnag district of south Kashmir.

“The PDP represents the sentiments of the people of J-K, talks about them. The PDP is the only party which can fight the BJP’s onslaught on our identity, lands and jobs,” she said.

To a question about the release of MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, from Tihar jail on an interim bail, she said, “We hope the rest of our youth, poor people who are in jails, are also released.”

Asked about Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s promise of providing five lakh jobs if the party is elected to power in J-K, Mufti said there was no comparison to the lies peddled by the BJP.

“They had said they will provide two crore jobs every year, but they have not even provided one crore jobs in the last 10 years. They do not have any compunction about telling lies,” she added.