Mehbooba re-elected PDP chief: ‘If cops want to arrest me for what I’m doing, so be it’

Mehbooba Mufti was unanimously re-elected president of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday, and afterward reiterated her demand for dialogue with Pakistan.

“Mehbooba Mufti-ji was re-elected as the party president for a period of three years,” PDP spokesperson Suhail Bukhari said. “It was a unanimous decision of the party. While senior leader Ghulam Nabi Lone-sahib proposed her name for the (post of) party president; it was seconded by another leader —Khurshid Alam-sahib.”

Monday’s election for the PDP president was first since the party underwent a split and several top leaders, including some former state ministers, joined hands to form the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, which is backed by BJP-led Union government.

With Monday’s re-election, Mufti has been elected party president for the seventh consecutive term. She was first elected to the post in 2003 after her father and then party chief Mufti Mohammad Sayeed became the chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking to reporters at her residence after her her re-election, Mufti said, “If the police want to arrest me for what I am doing, so be it.”

Responding to a question about the recent statement by Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar, she said, “Let him (Kumar) do his duty. I will do my job.”

At a recent press conference, Kumar had said that some mainstream political leaders are instigating the people and that the police would not hesitate to act against them. He had warned of cases against them.

Mufti also reiterated her demand for a dialogue with Pakistan. “I want to see an end to the sufferings of the people,” she said. “I won’t allow Kashmir to become a battlefield for India and Pakistan. I want Kashmir to become a bridge of peace. I believe dialogue is the best way forward to resolve the issues.”