Jammu, Mar 28: Condemning Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti's statement wherein she accused the J&K government of “harassing” families of separatists, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) J&K Executive Member Raman Suri argued that Mufti's discontent stems from the increasing inclination of youth towards peace and prosperity, a shift away from separatist activities. He highlighted the PDP's failure during its tenure to facilitate the socio-economic advancement of young people, leaving them vulnerable to violence and nepotism.

Raman Suri in a statement issued here alleged, "During the PDP rule, backdoor appointments shattered youth, incompetent people were appointed on many Boards and Corporations, and youngsters drawn towards separatism were never asked to come onboard mainstream but now, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has opened ample opportunities for them and many Lakhpati Didis are scripting history on socio-economic front, Mehbooba Mufti is finding flaws in them."

Suri accused Mufti of perpetuating unrest in the Union Territory by resisting the mainstreaming of separatist families and their disavowal of divisive ideologies. He argued that Mufti's condemnation of statements from the relatives of jailed separatist leaders, who have renounced separatism, reveals her aversion to the region's shift towards peace and development. 

The BJP leader emphasised the importance of Mehbooba's responsibility, as a former chief minister, to support the region's youth as they embrace a future of harmony and progress.

"The biggest enemy of youth, PDP, used them only to promote itself, and when it came to helping youngsters become part of the decision-making institutions, she and her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed chose to appoint their own relatives like brothers and daughters on key political and administrative posts, thereby marring the career of several educated and skilled youth of Jammu and Kashmir," he alleged.

Suri said Mehbooba brought her brother to head a ministry in J&K who failed and left the erstwhile state. "When it came to contesting local body polls, she chose to boycott the same and jeopardised the political career of thousands of aspirants of her own party," he said, adding, "Having failed to bring youngsters to the mainstream, she is now issuing sermons to J&K government and accusing it of harassing families of separatists, who are willingly joining mainstream and are abandoning politics of hatred and division."

Mehbooba Mufti, the BJP leader said, wants unrest to prevail in the Union Territory, which is why she is not able to digest the families of separatist leaders joining mainstream or distancing themselves from separatism or its ideology. "Had she been the supporter of youngsters, she would not have chosen to condemn the statements of jailed separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah’s daughter Sama Shabir and Hurriyat patriarch Syed Ali Geelani’s granddaughter Ruwa Shah, where they distanced themselves from the separatist ideology."

Being a former Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti must issue responsible statements knowing that these young girls have not distanced themselves from their families but said goodbye to the ideology of separatism, thereby sending a strong message amongst the youngsters that Kashmir is looking towards new horizons of peace, prosperity, and development, in which youth is taking an active part and writing their own destiny.