NVI Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 30 (NVI): Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti today lashed out at National Conference (NC) leaders for speaking the language of ‘Halaal and Haraam’ in the context of Jamaat-e-Islami’s intent to contest elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mehbooba, a former Chief Minister, said NC considers Jammu and Kashmir its “fiefdom” and declares elections ‘Halaal’ when they get to rule but when they do not get power, the polls are treated as ‘Haraam’.
She said she feels sad when NC chief Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah issue ‘Halaal, Haraam’ certificates in the context of elections.
Talking to reporters in Srinagar, the PDP chief posed, “I want to ask them (Abdullahs) who made elections ‘Haraam’ for Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) in 1987 when Muslim United Front was formed? Who resorted to rigging in those elections so that no other alternative crops up against NC?”
Mehbooba was referring to the Assembly elections of 1987 which are widely perceived to have been rigged in a massive manner by the NC, the then ruling party in alliance with the Congress.
Jamaat-e-Islami, as part of the Muslim United Front, had participated in those elections.
“The ‘Halaal’ ‘Haraam’ was started by them only in 1947 when late Sheikh Abdullah sahab (father of Farooq Abdullah) was first made the Chief Administrative Officer of J&K and then he joined India,” the PDP leader said.
“When he (Sheikh Abdullah) became the Chief Minister (of J&K), the elections were ‘Halaal’ but when he was removed from the post of Chief Minister, the elections became ‘Haraam’ for 22 years,” she noted.
Mehbooba pointed out that for 22 years, NC did not context elections as Sheikh Abdullah used to say that he wants ‘plebiscite’ and merger with Pakistan.
“But then, after 1975 (Sheikh-Indira Accord), he again became the Chief Minister and elections became ‘Halaal,” she quipped.
On Jamaat-e-Islami, which is currently banned in Jammu and Kashmir, showing desire to contest the upcoming Assembly polls, Mehbooba said it will be good since elections are a contest of ideas in a democracy.
She pointed out that it is not for the first time that Jamaat-e-Islami would be contesting the elections.
She said late leader of Jamaat-e-Islami Syed Ali Shah Geelani had been contesting elections long back.
“But in 1987, who converted ‘Halaal’ into ‘Haraam’ for Jamaat-e-Islami and other parties? NC committed rigging, because they did not want any third force to emerge. They had already roped in the Congress. By rigging the elections, they (NC) shut the doors for Jamaat-e-Islami,” the PDP chief said.
“I would request the government to lift ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and defreeze their assets so that they can contest the polls properly,” she said. (NVI)
