BJP demands arrest of Mehbooba Mufti for ‘seditious remarks’

Gulf Today Report

Lashing out at the Centre, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti said on Friday that she won't raise any other flag till the flag of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir is restored.

Mufti appeared before mediapersons with the flag of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and her party flag placed in front of her at her residence on the Gupkar road in Srinagar.

Hitting out at the PDP president over the comments, J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina told reporters: "I request Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to take note of (the) seditious remarks of Mehbooba Mufti, book her for the seditious act and put her behind bars".

"We will sacrifice every drop of our blood for our flag, country and motherland. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of our country, so only one flag can be hoisted... and that is the national flag," he said.

In her first press interaction after she was released from her 14-month long detention, the former Chief Minister said that her fight is not confined merely to the restoration of Article 370, but for the resolution of Kashmir issue as well.

The Jammu and Kashmir BJP on Friday demanded the arrest of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti for her "seditious remarks".

Mehbooba Muft speaks after police stopped her protest march in Srinagar. File

The BJP said "no power on earth" can either hoist the state flag again or restore Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. 

"Till the time we get back the flag that was robbed from us, we will not raise any other flag," Mehbooba added.

Mufti said that people have made sacrifices for the resolution of the Kashmir issue and it is now the turn of the leaders to do their bit.

She said the Centre is not interested in the people of Jammu and Kashmir, but just the territory of Union Territory.

"They are not interested in the people of J&K, who are expendbles for them. What they want is territory, which was already with the people by legal means till August 5 last year. But they broke their relationship which was the basis for accession. We had acceded to a liberal, secular and democratic India, we are not comfortable with today's India," she said.

Mufti said she has nothing to do with the elections but party leaders will decide on the issue and the People's Alliance for Gupkar deceleration signatories will take a call on the matter.

"We had boycotted the panchayat elections. We will speak to our workers, and the alliance will take a call on the issue of elections. As far as I am concerned, I will not contest any election without the flag of the erstwhile state of Jammu and kashmir and the constitution," she said

Mufti also accused the BJP of dividing people on caste and religious lines.