Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Friday said Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti had “no moral right” to join the ongoing student protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, alleging that her government’s record in dealing with protesters in Jammu and Kashmir contradicted her expression of solidarity with the agitating youth.
Bukhari made the remarks while responding to a question from reporters seeking his reaction to Mehbooba Mufti’s decision to join the student protest at Jantar Mantar and extend support to the agitating students.
“She had no right to join the protest and express sympathy with the protesters because, back home, she has a track record of dealing with protesters ruthlessly. When she was in power, she used pellet guns against our protesting children,” Bukhari said.
Bukhari distinguished between his criticism of Mehbooba Mufti and his stand on the student movement, asserting that the protesters were justified in their agitation.
“But as far as the student agitation is concerned, those students are justified. The injustice done to them is undeniable. As I said in my earlier speech, perhaps today the whole of India has witnessed what police brutality looks like and what the brutality of the security forces looks like,” he said.
Drawing parallels with Kashmir’s past, Bukhari said such scenes were familiar to the people of the region.
“We have been witnessing this since 1990. Our bodies have borne these blows, our children have suffered them, and our daughters have lost their eyesight,” he said.
He said it was particularly unfortunate that many of those now expressing solidarity with protesters had remained in power when similar incidents occurred in Jammu and Kashmir.
“What is especially regrettable is that our own rulers were in power here at the time when all this happened, and those same shameless people were present there yesterday,” he said.
In a religious reference, Bukhari said the present circumstances called for self-reflection.
“If we had not sinned, we would not have been given such rulers. And if we had not been given such rulers, these things would not have happened. This is the consequence of our own actions. We should turn to God in repentance,” he said.
He urged political parties to rise above their differences and unite on issues directly affecting the people.
“At least, if they cannot come together on any other issue, they should come together on this platform,” he said.
Bukhari cited the detention of youth and demolition of residential houses as issues that demanded a collective political response.
“Our young people are being taken to jails. The homes of people are being demolished because someone from their family has come out. At least, to stop this, they should come to one platform,” he said.
He cautioned that unless political parties spoke in one voice on such matters, the situation would continue to deteriorate.
“As long as they do not come to one platform, if they speak on behalf of different groups, then this will continue. That is their own personal decision,” he said.
Bukhari also urged people to remain vigilant about their rights and hold the government accountable, saying it was the people who had voted the ruling party into power with the expectation of good governance.
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