Centre using J&K to divert attention from Adani issue: Mehbooba Mufti

The PDP President alleged that the administration was carrying out anti-people measures to keep people “so busy that they don’t have time to think about anything else”.

Criticising the ongoing anti-encroachment drive, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday accused the BJP-led Centre of using Jammu and Kashmir to divert attention of the country from pressing issues such as unemployment and the Adani row.

"To divert the attention from the Adani issue and the damage it has done to the economy of the country, they (BJP) don't get anything better than Jammu and Kashmir, like demolition drive," Ms. Mehbooba told reporters here.

Asked about Union Home Minister Amit Shah's comments about the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, the former Chief Minister said, "They do not make statements, they make jumlas. He himself said the promises of two crore jobs and ₹15 lakh in every bank account were election jumla (rhetoric)," she said.

Ms. Mehbooba said Mr. Shah was the first Home Minister in the history of independent India who turned a state into a Union territory.

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On the demolition drive, she said the BJP earlier used to brand the people of Jammu and Kashmir as anti-nationals but has now started labelling them as encroachers.

"Land in JK belongs to the people of JK. I urge the people to take control of their land, be it through mohalla committees or panchayats.... Earlier they used to call us anti-nationals, now it is encroachers. We are not encroachers," she said.