NEW DELHI: Refuting BJP chief
Amit Shah's allegations holding PDP responsible for the breakup of the alliance in J&K, former chief minister
Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday launched a counterattack on the saffron party, accusing it of "disowning" its own narrative by calling it a "soft approach".
"Many false charges levelled against us by our former allies. Our commitment to the Agenda of Alliance (AoA), co-authored by Ram Madhav and endorsed by senior leaders like Rajnath Ji never wavered. It is sad to see them disown their own initiative and label it a 'soft approach'," Mufti said in one of the six tweets directed at her former political partner.
The tweets were in response to BJP leaders holding the PDP accountable for the failure of the alliance. On June 19, BJP, in a surprise decision, announced that it will no longer be a part of the alliance leading to the fall of the government in the state.
BJP leader Choudhary Lal Singh, a former minister in the Mehbooba-led cabinet, also levelled the 'soft approach' accusation against Mehbooba. "If terrorism recorded a growth it was because of the soft approach she adopted," Singh had said.
He accused Mehbooba Mufti of being "pro-separatist" and said she started her political career by shedding tears, a reference to her visits to meet families of slain soldiers.
A miffed Mufti refuted Singh's allegations, saying the "soft approach" was a "much needed" measure to restore confidence on the ground.
Shah had on Saturday said that the BJP's decision to pull out from the coalition was taken in view of the deteriorating law-and-order situation and failure of the state government to ensure an equitable development, especially of the Jammu and Ladakh regions.
On allegations of preferential treatment of Valley, Mufti acknowledged that Jammu and Ladakh regions may not have received the same treatment as the Valley, but "it was due to the 2014 floods and the turmoil in the region."
She also touched upon the issue of Rasana (Kathua) rape and murder case and said that it was her efforts which helped in safeguarding the interest of the Gujjar and
bakarwal community and getting the pro-rapist ministers sacked. She further added that not getting the case transferred to CBI was also a result of her efforts.
Mufti also seemed peeved with one of the BJP leaders threatening journalists by reminding them of the fate of slain journalist Shujaat Bukhari.
Choudhary Lal Singh had recently alleged that Kashmiri journalists have created "an erroneous atmosphere" and warned them to draw a line or face the fate of 'Rising Kashmir' editor Shujaat Bukhari, who was shot dead by terrorists.
"After expressing concern about freedom of expression in J&K following Shujaat (Bukhari)'s murder, their MLA, notorious..., still threatens journalists belonging to the valley. So what are they going to do about him?"
Calling the accusations against her party "false", Mufti listed the initiatives both the parties had agreed upon as part of the AoA, formulated as part of their alliance in the state.
"Status quo on Article 370, dialogue with Pakistan and Hurriyat were a part of AoA. Encouraging dialogue, withdrawing cases against stonepelters and the unilateral ceasefire were much needed measures to restore confidence on the ground. This was recognized and endorsed by BJP," she tweeted.
