National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti have voiced strong criticism against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that the exercise, along with other government policies, poses a threat to democratic and constitutional rights. Addressing a joint INDIA bloc rally in Delhi, the two prominent leaders from the region questioned the Election Commission’s rationale for the SIR, particularly its stated aim of identifying and removing infiltrators from voter lists.
Farooq Abdullah, a former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, directly challenged the narrative surrounding the SIR, questioning whether individuals whose names were allegedly removed from electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh were also being branded as Pakistanis. He stated, “Over one crore Hindus have been removed in UP. Are they also Pakistanis? How long will you give this excuse?” Abdullah accused the poll body of facilitating ‘vote chori,’ a term suggesting electoral malpractice. Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that Abdullah also targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), decrying their repeated questioning of the patriotism of Muslims. He emphasized that members of the Muslim community have also made sacrifices for the nation, asserting, “They are pointing fingers at Muslims all the time, calling them Pakistanis. I want to tell the BJP-RSS that we have given our blood for the country. We have to live in this country and strengthen it.”
Abdullah invoked the Constitution, framed under the leadership of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, to underscore the principle of equal rights for all citizens, irrespective of their religion, including the right to vote. “This is Ambedkar’s Constitution. We are all equal and every citizen has an equal voting right. We have to ensure that no Indian is denied the right to vote,” he declared. He urged the public not to be intimidated, stating that power resides with the citizens and called for unity to protect the country. Reaffirming Jammu and Kashmir’s status, Abdullah asserted that the region was, and would remain, an integral part of India, concluding his address with a patriotic slogan.
Meanwhile, Mehbooba Mufti, president of the PDP, issued a stark warning that the rest of India could potentially experience the same kind of constitutional and political shifts that Jammu and Kashmir underwent in 2019. She alleged that the Constitution was being systematically undermined and accused the central government of prioritizing the transfer of national assets to corporate entities while neglecting the needs of the poor and unemployed. Mufti conveyed a sense of urgency to the rally attendees, saying, “Seeing you people, it feels you understand the problem and can change the situation in the country. If you don’t change it now, it will be too late.”
Mufti also addressed the government’s employment record, claiming that its promises of job creation had largely gone unfulfilled. She highlighted a concerning trend where individuals who had joined the Army with pride were now reportedly compelled to work as daily wage laborers. In a pointed critique of the BJP’s claims of championing Hindutva, Mufti referenced alleged irregularities in donations received for the Ram temple in Ayodhya. “They have stolen donations from the Ram temple. What can be a bigger shame?” she questioned, according to reports reaching Tahir Rihat.
Linking the current political climate to the events in Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganization of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories in 2019, Mufti stated that the people of the region had firsthand experience of the consequences of what she described as the erosion of constitutional safeguards. “We, the people of Jammu and Kashmir, have been destroyed. They hollowed out the Constitution in 2019. But you should ensure they don’t make the whole country Jammu and Kashmir. We are with you,” she told the gathering. Describing Jammu and Kashmir as the soul of India, Mufti concluded her remarks by reciting a patriotic verse.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.