As thousands of people from Jammu and Kashmir thronged the Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar to attend PM Modi’s event, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti alleged that the administration his forcing the government employees to attend the event to paint a “pretty picture” about the Jammu and Kashmir.
“Disheartening to see employees being forcibly mobilized to paint a pretty picture that all is well post 2019 & that people here are celebrating their own collective disempowerment & humiliation. But this time Kashmiris know that everything spoken at Bakshi stadium will be to showcase the so called benefits of illegal abrogation of Article 370 akin to putting salt to their wounds,” Mufti said in a post on X
“This visit is only meant to address & drum support amongst BJPs core constituency in the rest of India for the upcoming parliament elections,” she added while sharing the video of people waiting for bus.
The leader of another prominent party in Kashmir, National Conference’s Omar Abdullah alleged that participation in PM Modi’s event is compulsory for government employees and they are being threatened with disciplinary action for not showing up.
“Employees, men, and women in 1000s are being asked to assemble between 4:30 am and 5:30 am in the freezing temperatures to be bused to the venue. This participation isn’t optional, it’s compulsory. Employees who don’t show up are been threatened with disciplinary action by their Dept heads,” National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said.
“Tomorrow the godi media and agencies will be gushing about the ‘historic crowd’ gathered to hear PM Modi in Srinagar. What they will conveniently forget to mention is that almost none of the people there will be attending of their own free will. The dictatorial Jammu and Kashmir government has pulled out all stops to give the PM a crowd because the BJP can’t manage anything in J-K without the administration,” he added.
Lok Sabha elections 2024
The remarks by PDP and National Conference leaders came as both parties are planning to fight Lok Sabha elections 2024 on their own with NC not agreeing to concede any seat for PDP. NC has rejected the INDIA bloc offer to field its candidates in Baramulla and Srinagar while leaving the Anantnag seat for PDP.
The reports have claimed that the NC is planning to contest all three seats from the Kashmir valley.
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Published: 07 Mar 2024, 05:31 PM IST