Iltija Mufti, daughter of incarcerated former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said that allying with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was a mistake.
Iltija said that she has not filed an application to seek removal of her security cover, adding that her lawyer has told them to give and remove the security cover was the decision of authorities and nobody can remove it at his or her own will.
Iltija said that she is raising her voice as being a daughter as well as a Kashmiri. “As a daughter who has seen a mother’s struggle, I will not allow people even central government to do a smear campaign against my mother. My mother has impeccable record as a politician,” she said. “Of course she has made mistakes and allying with BJP was one among the mistakes she committed, which although was my grandfather’s decision, but I won’t allow anyone to start a smear campaign against her.”
She further stated that she will be filing an application before the authorities, seeking restoration of internet services in Kashmir. “The Supreme Court (SC) has already given instructions to the Jammu and Kashmir administration in this regard and now I am filing and application to convened authorities regarding restoration of internet services today. I want to ask media persons in Kashmir to file an application too for the restoration of internet services,” she said.
Asked about the resignation of some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders as well as expulsion of leaders, Iltija said such situation is normal in political parties and “I don’t think it really matters.”
Replying to query whether she is going to join politics any time soon, Iltija said that she has stayed away from politics and has no interest in it. “No, I don’t think so that I will join politics anytime soon. Of course, I have stayed away from the politics,” she said.
“My grandfather and mother, both were chief ministers and I have nothing to gain from this. I have no plans to join politics and have no interest in it, but yes, if people are giving attention to my talks then for sure, I will not maintain silence. I find myself in unprecedented situation at present when my mother is under detention. I don’t want to keep quite on it, but to link everything with politics is very wrong,” she said. (KNO)