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Won’t contest elections till Article 370 is restored: Mehbooba Mufti

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Says killing militants may be successful operation, but not success of Govt, elections can wait, GoI should go ahead with CBM programs to take J&K people into confidence

(Asian News Hub) – A day after participating in All Party Meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief, Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said that she will not fight the elections until and unless Article 370 will be restored.

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As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), in an exclusive interview to a national television channel, Mehbooba made it clear that she will not contest in any elections till Article 370, scrapped by the central government on August 5, 2019, is restored.

However, she said that her party will contest the polls to ensure that the ground is provided to other parties, who cannot deliver as per the expectations of the people.

About yesterday’s meeting, she said that it was told by the chair that Statehood will be restored, but there was no clarification from the chair as to when the decision will be taken.

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She said that there was a need to start with Confidence Building Measures (CBM) programmes in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that instead of going ahead with the elections, the government should have started CBM measures to take the people into the confidence.

“The people are quite disturbed and depressed. The siege in Jammu and Kashmir should be lifted,” she said.

She further said that the situation has not changed on the ground in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that the continuous unfavourable situation on the ground has forced the government to talk with ‘Gupkar gang’.

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Mehbooba said that the promises done by the government after Article 370 abrogation have not fulfilled as there was no end to the militancy related incidents in J&K as well as the number of youth picking up arms.

“Killing militants may be successful operation for the security forces, but it cannot be success for the government. There is a need to think why the young men are picking up guns. We have to reach out to the people so that number of youth taking guns will be reduced,” she said.

She said that the talks were held in good atmosphere and Prime Minister gave patient hearing to the leaders and claimed that “Delhi ki Duri Door Karni Hai”. “I hope PM Modi means it and the people in J&K could heave a sigh of relief,” she said.

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She added that people were not expecting elections and delimitation exercise from a meeting, they were expecting something different as they wanted to ensure that the government should stop making frequent decision, which are giving apprehensions that the measures are being taken to make geographical changes in J&K.

Mehbooba also stated that she pitched for the release of political prisoners and anyone booked under stringent charges can at least be shifted to local jails.

She said that the government should hold dialogue with everyone including Pakistan. “It is dialogue that led to ceasefire due to which people are heaving sigh of relief. Talks should also be held Pakistan on other issues like resumption of trade and other things,” she said.

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She also said that the government should consider demands of Pakistani wives of Kashmiris, saying that either they should get citizenship rights or should be deported back to Pakistan.

KNO

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Today’s hat-trick guarantee of hat-trick in 2024: PM Modi on BJP’s victory in Assembly

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the BJP’s landslide victory in the assembly elections, calling it a triumph for his government’s goal of making India self-sufficient. Voters have sent a message to those engaged in corruption: change your ways, or else people will eliminate you, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered the victory speech after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spectacular performance in three out of four states Assembly elections, results of which were declared today.

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The saffron party has been able to retain Madhya Pradesh with a mamoth majority and defeated Congress in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, crossing the majority mark comfortably. In Telangana also, the BJP has improved tally from previous elections.

Addressing party workers at BJP headquaters, the Prime Minister said some are saying that today’s hattrick is the guarantee for hattrick in 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

He also said that these results are also a big lesson for Congress and its ‘ghamandiya gathbandhan’. The lesson is that the country’s trust cannot be won just by a few family members coming together on the stage.

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The spirit of national service that should be there to win the hearts of the people of the country is not there in the ‘ghamandiya gathbandhan’ (I.N.D.I.A. alliance). Take a look at top quotes from Prime Minister’s victory speech. 

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Sachin pilot ‘secretly divorced’ with Sara Abdullah: Rajasthan polls nomination reveals

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Congress leader Sachin Pilot and Sara Abdullah are divorced declared. It was revealed in affidavit filed for Rajasthan Assembly Polls 2023, News 24 reported.

Also Read: 4 dead, 10 injured after vehicle falls into gorge in north Kashmir

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Congress leader Sachin Pilot declared himself as divorced while filing his nomination for Tonk constituency for the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly Polls 2023. Pilot’s divorce news broke out after the former Chief Minister of Rajasthan after he submitted affidavit.

In the form, Sachin Pilot wrote divorced in front of his wife’s name. However, he has also mentioned Sara Pilot’s name while also giving details of her assets.

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Fear factor, a reason behind delay in elections: Omar

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Citing ‘fear factor’ as the reason behind delay in assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference vice president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday sought answers from the Election Commission of India “for allegedly depriving people of democratic rights.”

Also Read: Harissa – a delicacy returns to Valley as autumn signals winter’s arrival

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While addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Omar blamed the Election Commission of India for “taking decisions in accordance to the BJP”.

“I have nothing personal with BJP. I have complaints with ECI stated it will hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir after considering all the factors. I want to know what factors they are looking at? There is only one factor that is fear factor,” he said.

Omar said that a “fear” is prevailing within BJP, especially after failing to gain a majority in the LAHDC-Kargil polls.

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“Earlier they (BJP) would hide behind Raj Bhavan now it is Election Commission. If there is anything else other than the fear factor, we want to hear. Is internal security not robust? You can’t deprive the people of their democratic rights of having an elected government in Jammu and Kashmir,” he asked.

Omar said: “They (government) are claiming that the situation has changed post-August 2019. They also release figures about a large number of tourists coming to Kashmir. The election commission earlier said that a vacuum needs to be filled. We want to know what the factors left to fill the vacuum are.”

Omar said they have no hopes of elections in Jammu and Kashmir especially after the results of LAHDC- Kargil polls.

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“If democratic rights are not restored then political parties will have no choice other than to come on to streets. The Supreme Court recently told the government to hold Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies elections. It seems they have now no courage left to hold these elections. If it was up to them, the BJP would even delayed parliament elections but they couldn’t do it because of the compulsion of forming government at the center,” he said.

Omar claimed the BJP’s defeat in the LAHDC- Kargil polls result of bifurcation of the erstwhile state.

“The results are proof that the bifurcation hit the people of Ladakh equally as it hit the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The results were less about development but more about the bifurcation of the erstwhile state. It is true that people of Ladakh distributed sweets earlier but now their social act visits are protesting,” he said, adding that “Now the BJP will cover defeat by claiming that Kargil is a Muslim majority district. Even Leh is also a Muslim majority district despite the fact a good population of Buddhists lives there. Our Buddhists candidate from Padam emerged victorious.”

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Regarding forming an alliance with Congress during elections, Omar said that India Alliance has not taken any decision of seat sharing yet.

“No talks about seat sharing yet by the India Alliance. We are ready for the discussions,” he said.

On the Palestine and Israel war, he termed it ‘unfortunate’ given heavy loss of lives.

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“It is unfortunate that deaths are happening from both sides. Violence whether it is in the Middle East or Jammu and Kashmir, innocent people suffer. We can hope and pray for normalcy,” he said. KNO

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