SRINAGAR: Hours after Peoples’ Democratic Party chief Mehooba Mufti spoke at her maiden press conference since being released from detention, the BJP on Friday accused her of making “seditious remarks”.
“We will raise the national flag only once our state flag is back. The national flag is here only because of this (the Jammu and Kashmir) flag and constitution. We are linked to the rest of the country because of this flag,” Mehbooba Mufti said on Friday, prompting criticism from the BJP and the Congress.
Reacting to her statement, J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina said: “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.”
While talking to reporters in Jammu he said, “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 tricolour.”
Won’t Raise Any Other Flag Till J&K’s Flag, Constitution Is Returned: Mehbooba Mufti
“I warn leaders like Mehbooba Mufti not to instigate the people of Kashmir. We will not allow anyone to disturb peace, normalcy and brotherhood. In case anything wrong happens, she will have to face the consequences,” said J&K BJP chief Ravinder Raina.
On Friday, while addressing a press conference Mehbooba said her party would not “abandon the constitutional battle” to reclaim special status withdrawn by the centre in a contentious decision taken in August last year. “A robber may be mighty but he has to return the stolen goods. They demolished the constitution… Parliament had no power to take away special status,” she said.
“Those who feel we will abandon Kashmir are mistaken,” she said, adding that she would not contest any election until Article 370 is restored. “I have contested elections under our own constitution. How can I contest elections when that constitution has been abolished,” she said.
