BJP weakening secularism in India, Country’s foundation shaken: Mehbooba Mufi
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of weakening foundations of secularism in India.
She also ‘saluted’ Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for exhibiting the courage to undertake Bharat Jodo Yatra. “Communal brotherhood, secularism and democracy are the essence of this nation, but in the past seven to eight years, these foundations are being weakened. The roots of secularism in this nation are being uprooted. In such an atmosphere, Rahul Gandhi has embarked on Bharat Jodo Yatra. We salute him for his courage… for reuniting the nation,” she told reporters outside the PDP office in Jammu.
On Saturday, Mehbooba had asked the J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha to not force the Kashmiri Pandit staffers to return to Kashmir.
“He (Sinha) should try to know their hardships and find a way out, but he issued a diktat that their salaries will not be released unless they join their duties (in Kashmir). All of us have suffered (because of militancy), but Pandits suffered more. Recently, targeted killings also took place in Kashmir. Therefore, the issue needs to be looked into with right earnest, and for sometime their demands should be conceded,” she had said.
Meanwhile, AICC general secretary KC Venugopal and in-charge, J&K affairs, Rajni Patil met Sinha on Monday to discuss the upcoming Bharat Jodo Yatra led by party leader Rahul Gandhi.
KB Byju, security adviser to Rahul Gandhi, also accompanied them.
After meeting the LG, they left for Srinagar. “The meeting with the L-G was in connection with the upcoming Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi in the third week of January. The meeting lasted for over half an hour,” said a party spokesperson.
