People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said that “if any big country wants a war between India and Pakistan, it just has to trigger an explosion in Kashmir or Jammu. Then the war will start and arms will be sold.” She made the remarks while addressing party workers during a public meeting organised in Jammu to mark the 26th foundation anniversary of the PDP. She said conflict and war benefit the global arms industries. Mehbooba said her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed believed that peace with Pakistan was essential to ensure progress in Jammu and Kashmir. “He used to say that unless there is peace, we cannot fight poverty or generate employment. We cannot provide electricity to everyone.” Despite Jammu and Kashmir being a state rich in natural resources, with water that produces electricity for the rest of India and minerals that can be mined, we are economically backward. “Educated youth here are not getting opportunities. Still, we are backward.” Mufti also questioned the record of the BJP and the National Conference in Jammu since 2018. She asked that the BJP had a government in both Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir since 2018. What has it done for Jammu? “Unemployment and inflation are still high.”
She also strongly criticised the political promises made during elections, such as free electricity, subsidised cylinders and employment guarantee, which have not been fulfilled yet.