SRINAGAR: Former J&K Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti Monday said she wonders how the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) whose chief Er Rashid is imprisoned is gathering financial and logistical support to fight the J&K Assembly elections. Mehbooba was addressing media over the altercation that took place Sunday between PDP and AIP workers in Balpora Shopian where PDP’s candidate, Yawar Banday received injuries. “PDP candidate Yawar Banday was beaten with batons by these AIP goons. His ribs are broken, and he has suffered a head injury. His condition is serious,” Mufti said. Indicating that she smells a rat, Mufti said that her Party, despite being founded decades ago doesn’t have resources to field candidates everywhere, while on the other hand, AIP, whose chief is jailed, seems to have every logistical and financial support in their disposal. “They are hiring scores of vehicles and apparently are not even touched by law, who gives them this impunity?” asked Mufti. Mufti said that the independent candidates and the AIP has full backing, however, she didn’t specify whose. “The AIP members attempted to murder our leader. Why are they still roaming free? Why hasn’t anyone been arrested so far?” Mufti said. She said, if a PDP worker had assaulted someone, he along with all the party cadre would have been arrested till now. Asked whether the party wants a probe in this, Mufti said that “there is no probe needed, it is clear who assaulted. We demand action,” she said. The assaulters got on Yawar’s neck, tried to strangulate him, he was beaten to an extent that he had to be referred to SMHS, Mufti said. After the abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A, Mehbooba said that centre created several proxies, but as they failed in the recently held Lok Sabha elections, they are now counting on and backing the AIP, she alleged. Mufti further said that she “warns the people of J&K that they should only consider voting three parties, that are PDP, JKNC, and Congress, rest she said, are being backed up.” “They want to hurt the cause of Jammu and Kashmir,” Mufti said.
