Srinagar, Aug 28 (KNO): The former chief minister of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state and President of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday announced to stay away from the upcoming assembly elections and that the assembly has been reduced to the extent that the Chief Minister would not have the powers to even release the youth languishing in jails.
Addressing the media persons, Mehbooba as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that she has served as the powerful Chief Minister in the powerful assembly, but now it has been reduced to the municipality and doesn’t have any powers to pass even a single law.
“I am the chief minister, who forged an alliance with BJP and ensured the withdrawal of 12000 FIRs against youth, invited separatist for talks, ensured ceasefire, is it possible in today’s assembly,” she asked while replying to a query about her participation in the assembly polls, adding that “what we have to do with the post when we don’t have powers to withdraw a single FIR and release the people from jails.
About the pre-poll alliance between some parties, Mehbooba said that PDP has fought every election on its own since its formation in 1999.
She added that they have always contested the polls with the support of people. “We have formed the party with an agenda of ensuring peace with dignity. We don’t care whether the parties forge an alliance with us or not, but what matters is the public support,” she added.
While replying to a query, Mehbooba said that it was the rule of National Conference (NC) when Muhammad Maqbool Bhat and Afzal Guru were hanged to death—(KNO)