Mehbooba Mufti Accuses J&K Administration of Trying to ‘fix’ LS elections

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti accused the Jammu and Kashmir administration of attempting to manipulate the Lok Sabha elections by targeting her party and its supporters. She claimed that the authorities had imposed unprecedented restrictions in Pulwama, part of the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, to deter voters.

Mufti alleged harassment of her party’s workers, detention of active members, and the creation of a tense atmosphere ahead of polling. She expressed concerns about potential electoral fraud and questioned the necessity of holding elections if the intention was to manipulate the outcome.

She criticized the administration’s alleged support for proxies and accused them of delaying elections in certain areas to favor specific candidates. Mufti claimed that government officials were under pressure to target PDP workers selectively.

Addressing Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Mufti called for an end to the “drama of elections” if fraud was the intention, expressing reluctance to risk her party workers’ lives. She accused the ruling BJP of unjustly imprisoning youth and urged voters to support the PDP.

Mufti asserted that her party was being targeted due to its popularity, dismissing the administration’s actions as attempts to undermine their influence. Regarding Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Mufti urged the government to prioritize addressing issues within Kashmir before concerning itself with PoK. She criticized BJP’s stance on Muslims in India, questioning their intentions regarding Muslims from PoK.