Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday said that whatever was snatched from Kashmiris on August 05, 2019 will have to be returned with interest.Addressing party workers on the occasion of 22nd foundation day of PDP at party headquarters, Mehbooba as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said with the decision taken in August 2019, the Jammu and Kashmir was made scapegoat for gaining votes.“It is unfortunate that the only Muslim majority state in India was split,” she said, adding that whatever people of Kashmir faced wasn’t done by India and its constitution, but by an individual party.“The identity of J&K people was snatched illegally and whatever was snatched from people on August 5, 2019, will have to be returned with interests,” she said, adding that “when India can achieve freedom from British after 70 years, when BJP can snatch special status of J&K after 70 years, then why can’t we fight out rights.”The PDP president said that the J&K people want to live with India and thus will continue to raise their voice and seek the restoration of special status.
She appealed to youth to shun the militancy, saying that some people want youth to take up arms, but “the youth should stay away from culture. We will raise our voice peacefully. We have to learn from Mahatma Gandhi. We need to learn from him.”According to KNO, Mehbooba said that J&K people preferred to stay with India due to its democratic nature, but whatever was given to the people by India itself has been snatched.“Today forces are not fighting enemies, Pakistan and China, but with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. They (forces) have created fear among the people,” she said, adding that people are being threatened for raising their voice.On the formation of PDP, she said her father established this party with an intention to help Kashmiris to come out for the suppression they faced. “My father never sought votes for developmental issues. Although he did development during his tenure by constructing Colleges, Universities and roads as well, he always sought votes for the well being of Kashmiris in terms of helping them to come out from the situation they were facing,” she said.Meanwhile, she appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir to probe the killing of three youth in encounters, saying that people are raising fingers on IGP after the killing of three youth in the encounters.“IGP should probe the killings of Zakir, Imran and Azad Mushtaq. The facts in this regard should be made public,” she said—(KNO)