Senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Member Parliament from Srinagar Tariq Hamid Karra, who stayed away from the meeting on Thursday, said that the party should snap its ties with the right-wing BJP in the state if “it wants to protect the people of Kashmir”.
“The RSS-BJP has unleashed terror across the country. And in Jammu and Kashmir the rabid Hindutva elements have also not spared Muslims. They attacked two Kashmiri drivers in Udhampur in which a youth was killed. Such incidents clearly indicate that Kashmiris are no longer safe under the present alliance. If PDP leadership wants to protect people of Kashmir from the terror of RSS-BJP, then the leaders have to revisit its decision and snap ties with the BJP,” Karra told KNS.
Karra stayed away from the vital meeting of PDP functionaries which was chaired by the party president Mehbooba Mufti and patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
Pertinently, another senior PDP leader and MP from Baramulla also did not attend the meeting.
Citing examples of Dadri lynching of a Muslim man by a Hindu mob, attack on the Kashmiri drivers, statement of Haryana Chief Minister against Muslims, lynching of bovine trader in Himachal Pradesh and rabid statements of Sakshi Maharaj, Karra said that communal forces have gained strength after the BJP came to power.
Karra said that assessing the PDP-BJP coalition’s six-month performance, it completely looks anti-Kashmir and against the PDP’s core agenda.
“What RSS could not do in India in sixty years, they have achieved that in Kashmir in just 6 months. A legislator was roughed by BJP in legislature. So how could a common man feel safe in Kashmir under the rabid elements that have the patronage of BJP and RSS,” he said.
“So, time has come up for the leadership to think their alliance with the communal forces. The alliance will also prove very detrimental for the party. Our workers tell us that they cannot face the people more if the alliance continues for more time,” he said.
On staying away from the party meeting, Karra said that his stand is clear that until the party revisits its alliance with BJP, he won’t attend any such meetings.
“I have remained away from all official functions and coordinate committee meetings,’’ he said.
“Moreover, the self respect of Kashmiris should not be mortgaged for development. I don’t think Kashmiris would prefer drains and roads over their self respect and Kashmiriyat. So, I once again request the PDP leadership that for they should not subjugate the Kashmir and Kashmiri honour for development,” he said.
He said that for the first time in the free India, Kashmiri Muslims have started feeling that their religion is in danger.
