NC challenges Mehbooba Mufti over Rajya Sabha polls

Srinagar, May 05: The National Conference (NC) on Tuesday accused Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti of “voting for the BJP” in last year’s Rajya Sabha elections, demanding that she and her three MLAs should place their hands on the Quran and swear that they did not vote for the BJP.

NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq alleged that Mufti had “joined hands” with the saffron party in 2014, becoming the first political leader from Kashmir since 1975 to form a post-poll alliance with the BJP.

“If she had not joined hands with the BJP in 2014, then perhaps this would not have happened,” Sadiq said, referring to the PDP-BJP coalition government formed that year.

The NC leader further claimed that the PDP remains silent on larger issues like Article 370 and the restoration of statehood while continuing to target his party over the Rajya Sabha vote. “You are constantly criticising the National Conference. But you are silent on big issues — whether it is Article 370 or statehood, or the developments that have taken place,” MLA Sadiq said.

Asserting that Mufti’s claim of not voting for the BJP cannot be trusted, Sadiq said, “If Mehbooba Mufti and her three MLAs are true to the people of J&K, they should place their hands on the Quran and state that they did not vote for the BJP in the Rajya Sabha polls.”

Responding to Congress complaints about a lack of coordination in the opposition alliance, MLA Sadiq said the NC has already decided on its four members for a proposed coordination committee.

“We are waiting for the Congress to decide among themselves who will be on that committee. If the Congress decides and forms a coordination committee, then whatever is discussed will be resolved,” he added. (KNS)