Srinagar, Mehbooba Mufti, President of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has voiced concerns over attempts to replicate the contentious electoral environment of 1987 in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). She highlighted fears of electoral rigging similar to that which sparked widespread violence decades ago.

According to Kashmir Media Service, during her speeches at rallies across the Baramulla parliamentary constituency in north Kashmir, Mufti claimed that the New Delhi-installed administration in IIOJK is exerting pressure on officers from specific communities to support BJP’s proxy candidates. She drew parallels to the 1987 elections, notorious for allegations of fraud that escalated into significant conflict in the region.

Mufti expressed her concerns about the coercion of local populations and officials, reminiscent of the broader political manipulations in 1947, which could potentially lead to disastrous outcomes if the forthcoming elections are rigged. She also emphasized the broader implications of the elections for the thousands of Kashmiri youth currently imprisoned outside their home region, stressing that the electoral process could impact their future significantly.