Srinagar, Mehbooba Mufti, President of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has accused the BJP-led Indian government of attempting to revive the Ikhwan, a controversial militia, to suppress dissent and manipulate upcoming elections in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Mufti claims this move mirrors tactics previously used in the troubled 1987 elections.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Ikhwan was originally formed in the early 1990s with support from the Indian Army to counteract pro-independence movements in Kashmir. At a press conference in Srinagar, Mufti alleged that the current Indian administration is initiating a similar strategy, targeting young people and political activists, particularly those affiliated with the PDP. She reported that recent actions include an arrest spree and the detention of 60 party workers in Poonch district following an attack on an Indian Air Force convoy.
Mufti expressed her concerns about the use of government institutions to support BJP proxies in the region, criticizing the Election Commission of India for not intervening. “Each and every institution of Government of India is being used to help proxies of BJP in Jammu and Kashmir with an aim to throttle the real voice of J and K,” she stated. She further questioned the integrity of the electoral process, drawing parallels with the 1987 elections, which were widely regarded as rigged and led to significant political unrest.
The PDP leader warned that repeating such electoral manipulation could worsen the already volatile situation in Kashmir, potentially leading to more violence and instability. She highlighted the serious implications of such actions, suggesting that they could lead to increased grievances and unrest among the Kashmiri population.