Mehbooba accuses Modi of wasting mandate to resolve Kashmir issue

Bijbehara: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wasted mandate to resolve the Kashmir issue due to which situation in the valley has deteriorated. She also said that she was forced to enter into a coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir. She told this while addressing a gathering on the occasion of third death anniversary of her father late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

Mehbooba said there were high expectations when Modi visited Kashmir. People thought he will follow former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, but it did not happen. She is quoted to have said, “People here [were] expecting healing touch and resuming of dialogue with Pakistan but unfortunately Mr Modi remained silent.” She claimed that resuming of dialogue between India and Pakistan was necessary to resolve all the issues for the restoration of peace in the valley.

Seeking apology over her “toffee and milk” remarks, PDP President and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said that the remarks she had made in the year 2016 was a pain from the heart of a mother. She said the toffee and milk remarks she had made was a pain from the heart of a mother which she expressed.

It must be recalled that in 2016 while addressing a press conference with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Mehbooba had said that “had they (youth killed in 2016 agitation) gone to camps and police stations to buy toffees and milk”.

She claimed that she was like the youth’s mother and she was pained as they were being pushed to get killed therefore as a mother she used such words to express her pain. She added that she was concerned about her children. She, however, sought apology as her remarks have hurt the sentiments of people.