PDP leader: Use the vote to overturn the BJP’s CAA decision

Mehbooba Mufti, the former chief minister, asked voters to unseat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in response to its provocations, such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), on Wednesday.

In light of Kashmir’s delicate ecological zone, the PDP president said that the government should proceed carefully while carrying out development initiatives, such as expanding the railway line in the region. She went on to say that her party would not put up with the Shopian district’s apple orchards being sacrificed in order to build railroads through the villages.

According to the PDP leader, the people have not had work or employment from the government for the last 10 years. She said that individuals are already experiencing hardships as a result of inflation. She added that the Center was attempting to inflame Hindu-Muslim tensions by destroying houses and mosques and mistreating Muslims in prayer in order to divert attention from more pressing matters. She said that the Citizenship Amendment Act regulations were implemented by the government to agitate Muslims and compel them to travel. She said that in 2020, despite nonviolent demonstrations like those in Shaheen Bagh, people protested peacefully, and the CAA was implemented. Despite this, Muslim adolescents were jailed and were not released on bond.

The former chief minister advised Muslims against participating in public demonstrations, stressing the need to react to the governing party’s provocations via democratic channels like voting. According to Mufti, it is encouraging to see the Supreme Court recently issue rulings that are seen as being pro-people, and some elders have already made the decision to file a lawsuit against the CAA.

“They created the CAA with the hopes that Muslims would out and there would be a riot in the community. It’s time to answer to such provocations with votes, and I implore Muslims to avoid being caught up in this,” she said.

The Muslim community is the focus of the CAA. Votes should be used to address it, followed by legal action,” she said.

Mehbooba expressed alarm over the planned railway line extension to Shopian, stating that it may result in the removal of thousands of apple trees. “Having a railroad line is OK. However, it shouldn’t have an effect on Kashmir’s apple orchard industry, she said.

She voiced worries about the possible damage that projects like extending train lines into every community and uprooting apple orchards may do to Kashmir’s economy.