Srinagar, Mehbooba Mufti, the President of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has described the Narendra Modi government’s revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019, as a devastating ‘earthquake’ whose impacts are still affecting the region today.

According to Kashmir Media Service, during a public rally in Devsar, Kulgam district, Mufti said the 2019 actions continue to shake the region, disrupting its socio-political landscape. “The earthquake jolts for some time and stops, but the earthquake that occurred in 2019 has not yet stopped,” she stated, highlighting the ongoing struggles faced by the local population.

Mufti accused the BJP-led government of targeting the identity and resources of the Kashmiri people, including their land and job opportunities. She called for active resistance against these policies: “They want us to surrender, accept defeat. They have pushed us into the river, our job is to stay afloat.”

She also described Jammu and Kashmir as a ‘laboratory’ for the Indian government’s experimental policies, urging the people to not remain silent but to peacefully raise their voices against injustices. Mufti expressed concerns over the displacement of local communities, including the Gujjars and Bakarwals, and the appropriation of land under the pretext of government ownership.

Further, she criticized economic measures she views as aimed at undermining Kashmir’s economy, such as the importation of cheap apples from America and Iran, which compete with local production. She also highlighted the harsh measures against youth and journalists, including arrests under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for expressing dissent on social media or reporting on sensitive issues.

Mufti warned that with the elections approaching, there has been an increase in the detention of young people in the valley, emphasizing the need for vigilance and advocacy to protect the rights and futures of Kashmiri citizens.