Iltija Mufti, 32, daughter of incarcerated Peoples Democratic Celebration (PDP) president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, speaks to The Hindu on why she thinks J&K is far from being a typical location, even as the revocation of the erstwhile State’s unique status finishes one year. Edited excerpts from the interview:
Your mom and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti’s detention was extended by three months just recently. Why do you think that occurred?
The federal government wishes to make an example of her. It desires people to know if you speak versus Article 370, you show dissent, if you don’t agree with what we did, then we are going to detain you forever, arbitrarily, and illegally, put you behind bars, embarrass you. BJP has an aversion, to the degree that nobody ought to discuss Short article370 Likewise, it is targeted at creating a fear psychosis, which is prevalent for the previous one year now, stronger. An individual would think hundreds of times prior to in harmony objecting, considering if a previous Chief Minister is still being detained, then imagine what they can do to me.
Also checked out: Mehbooba Mufti was dealing with separatists: Public Security Act file
Was Ms. Mufti ever asked to sign a bond to get released?
Yes. The pressure the Indian federal government felt was a number of weeks ahead of the United National General Assembly fulfill in October last year. An administrative officer was sent out to my mom with the bond sheet. If you check out the terms and conditions of the bond sheet, it seems like we live in a dictatorship or an autocratic government. It stated “if I speak or make any declaration on abrogation of Short article 370 and 35 A I am going to be put behind bars.” This bond was patently prohibited. She outright refused [to sign] it. See the series of occasions. They took her away, put pressure overtly, covertly … they orchestrated a split in the party, where [intelligence] companies were used. In February, the Public Safety Act[PSA] was slapped on my mother. What really infuriated me was when they began blackmailing me about not speaking with the media. I used to get risks indirectly. I was told if I keep talking, “we are going to slap PSA on your mom.”
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Do you believe there are takers for the post-August 5 position in J&K?
My mom is against it. What happened last year was incorrect then and it’s incorrect now and it will be wrong