"Divisive Agenda": Mehbooba Mufti Targets BJP On Delimitation

Mehbooba Mufti said, "When delimitation cannot happen in the rest of the country till 2026, why are they doing so in J&K? It is part of their divisive agenda. They want to increase seats in some regions and organise the seats in a way that there is a division of votes in the majority community".

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti pulled no punches in her attack on the Central government today, labelling the delimitation exercise now being conducted in Jammu and Kashmir a "divisive agenda". The Union Home Ministry informed the Lok Sabha today that they plan to complete the delimitation exercise in Jammu and Kashmir as early as possible.

"When delimitation cannot happen in the rest of the country till 2026, why are they doing so in J&K? It is part of their divisive agenda. They want to increase seats in some regions and organise the seats in a way that there is a division of votes in the majority community... Muslims, Kashmiris, Gujjar. They want to further divide the society," she told reporters at the Indian Women's Press Club in Delhi.

Joining the process will not help either, she said. "They are just not listening to people who have joined the process too," she said.

Though her party -- the People's Democratic Party, which was a BJP ally till June 2018 -- will contest the elections, she said she will not participate "till Article 370 is restored". "We will not cede any space to them (the BJP)," she said.