Srinagar, Aug 15 (KNO): Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday invoked the sacrifices made for India’s freedom and asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre to reflect on whether the country has truly lived up to the constitutional vision of dignity, freedom and equal justice.
Speaking to reporters after attending the Independence Day function at Bakshi Stadium here, Mehbooba, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said, “People made sacrifices for our freedom. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Sardar Patel and others dreamed of a country where people could live with dignity and freedom, make their own choices and receive equal justice. We must ask whether these values are being upheld today."
The former chief minister said the Constitution was framed under the leadership of Dr B R Ambedkar with contributions from the Congress leadership and promised equal rights and justice for everyone, without discrimination based on religion or caste.
“The BJP government at the Centre should think if, after 80 years, we have realised the dream of India as envisioned in the Constitution,” she said. "We must ensure that we are not moving backwards."
On women’s reservation, Mufti said the bill had already been passed by Parliament in 2023 and only needed to be implemented. “The (women's) reservation bill has been passed; it simply needs to be implemented,” she said—(KNO)