After the decline of Apni Party, Mehbooba says she will not take back those leaders who deserted her

By: Musaib Iqbal MK

Srinagar

PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti has said that many of her former colleagues of her party were showing willingness to return but claimed that she will not take back any of them as they have left the party at a crucial juncture.

She claimed that many of them in the recent past have indirectly tried to send feelers to her that they want to return but she has refused to take them back.

When Altaf Bukhari who was also part of the PDP floated the new party known as J&K Apni Party, many former ministers and lawmakers from the PDP joined him and Mehbooba was virtually left alone with few members.

According to PTI in its news report about the utterances of Mehbooba Mufti has said as follows.

“I have made it a principle that those who have left us will not be taken back. Many of the leaders who deserted the party are eager to return but I am not going to take them back,” Mehbooba said addressing a function at party headquarters here.

The function was organized by the PDP to welcome dozens of new entrants including supporters of Bushan Lal Dogra, a former minister who rejoined the PDP last month.

“Dogra is like my younger brother and is a thorough gentleman whom I respect the most. His case of rejoining the party is exceptional,” Mehbooba said, expressing hope that he along with other workers would work tirelessly for strengthening the party at the grass-roots level.

Launching a scathing attack on the BJP-led central government, she alleged that the ruling party is using Jammu and Kashmir as a laboratory for experimenting and has destroyed the erstwhile state.

“My request to the people is to stand up to save Jammu and Kashmir. If you are able to save J&K, you will save the country. They started destruction of the country from J&K,” the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said.

Referring to the government’s plan to facilitate large scale investment in Jammu and Kashmir, she said “outside investors bring their own labor force along with them while they have their contribution in the apartments planned to be build by the big real estate investors.”

She accused the BJP of launching an eviction drive to retrieve land from the hapless poor people, irrespective of their religion, creed or caste.

“Under BJP rule, the rich are becoming richer while as the number of poor had doubled with youth becoming jobless and inflation touching the sky,” she said.

Praising her party workers, Mehbooba said it is heartening to see the dream of party founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed becoming a reality with each passing day.

“I am seeing concern for people of Kashmir growing in Jammu. Mufti wanted to see the two regions stand together and understand each other’s pain. This is happening today,” she said.

With PTI inputs