Srinagar, Apr 17 (UNI) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said she was not surprised by former RAW chief A.S. Dulat’s revelation that National Conference (NC) patron Farooq Abdullah had privately endorsed the abrogation of Article 370 and even expressed willingness to “help” with the process if he was taken into confidence.



“Dulat sahib has long been close to the National Conference like a family member. Today he writes that Farooq sahib wanted a discussion over removal of Article 370 and was even willing to get it removed through the Assembly. This is not the first time. The NC had done similar things in 2014,” Mufti told reporters on the sidelines of a PDP central Kashmir's workers convention in Srinagar.



She further claimed that senior NC leaders, including Omar Abdullah, had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in 2014—allegedly during late-night meetings—to urge the BJP to form a government with NC, and not with the PDP.

“They offered to form the government with the BJP without any conditions. This (Dulat claim) is not a new thing,” she said.



The former Chief Minister also expressed hope that the Supreme Court would deliver a favourable verdict on the petitions challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act, which is currently under consideration.



"When the decision of Babri Masjid or Afzal Guru came... there was no evidence. ...But the Supreme Court said we are giving this decision for collective consciousness. So, I hope... emotions of crores of Muslims are attached to Waqf. There is strong evidence too... .... We hope that the Supreme Court will give verdict against the Waqf amendments considering the same collective consciousness," she said.

Mufti said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is not peaceful as claimed by the government.

“We wanted a peaceful protest against the Waqf Bill and in solidarity with Palestine, but authorities did not permit the gathering. If the peace of Jammu and Kashmir can be disturbed by a simple protest, then the situation is already clear,” she remarked.



Earlier in her speech, Mehbooba Mufti said that the real heirs of the Mughals in India are not poor Muslims but the Rajwadas and royal families now aligned with the BJP.



“Poor Muslims of India are not the true descendants of the Mughals. The Mughals did not marry into poor Muslim families but into Rajwadas and royal households. Those sitting with you (BJP) are their real progeny,” she said.





UNI MJR SJC