Kulgam, Apr 17: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday said that all fake encounter cases in Jammu and Kashmir should be investigated and the guilty punished.
She was talking to media persons at Kund in Kulgam after an election rally. Asked about the Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement that fake encounters occurred during the rule of the National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Congress, Mehbooba said, “If such incidents have occurred, investigate the cases and punish the guilty. Even the fake encounter cases during BJP’s rule in Shopian and Rajouri too must be investigated and guilty punished.”
She said that even corruption charges were being levelled against political leaders in J&K.
“Investigate these cases also and put the guilty in jail,” Mehbooba said.
She said that it was up to the people to decide whom they should send to the parliament.
The PDP chief, who is contesting on the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat, said that the upcoming elections were not merely about PDP or NC.
“People should determine who can truly represent their voices in the parliament,” she said.
Mehbooba stressed the importance of the electorate’s choice in selecting their most effective advocate.
She said that there had been an atmosphere of suppression and enforced silence.
“Hundreds of our youth are languishing in jails. Many journalists are behind bars while our employees are facing dismissals, yet nobody is speaking up for them,” Mehbooba said.
Criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), she said that the party had choked the voice of the people of J&K.
“They wanted to create such an atmosphere of fear where nobody could dare to speak up,” the PDP chief said.
She said that under such circumstances, people should strengthen the voice that speaks up for them.