Mehbooba Mufti has lost people's trust, says former PDP leader

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) veteran Surinder Choudhary, who was the party's state general secretary till last year, made news this week by joining the BJP and calling PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti two-faced. The former MLC was credited with making the PDP win Hindu-dominated Nowshera seat in district development council (DDC) polls and was considered the PDP's Hindu face in Jammu. In an interview with Prerna Katiyar, Choudhary said Mufti says one thing when she is in power and another when she is not. Excerpts:

So, why did you join the BJP?
I left the PDP a year back. I was the party's general secretary. When (former CM, PDP founder and Mehbooba Mufti's father) Mufti (Mohammad Sayeed) saab was there he cared for party workers. Since the time Mehbooba ji took over, workers started leaving one by one, as she does not care and ignores Jammu leaders. She focuses only on Kashmir; all her statements are anti-Jammu and anti-national. This used to harm me, as I had to fight from Nowshera in Jammu. It was because of me she could win in a Hindu-dominated place like Nowshera. In 2019, when Article 370 was abrogated and she went to jail, I took the party's cause forward. In the DDC polls, in Nowshera we defeated the BJP candidate and made the PDP chairman win on a PDP mandate - we are talking about a Hindu-dominated area here which was a remarkable feat. But when she came out she ignored us and forced us to leave the party.


Why did I join the BJP? Jammu and Kashmir are going through a crucial juncture. People have lost faith and there is a need to unite Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh; there's a need for bhaichara (brotherhood) among Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Buddhists. I realised that only the BJP could make this happen. Modi-Shah is the only strong leadership now. They have the guts to solve the issues of the region. Let me reiterate that I have joined for neither personal benefits nor political gains.

What are the key issues of your region?
Rajouri and Poonch are some of the most backward regions. A lot needs to be done on electricity supply, roads, schools and hospitals. We don't even have a four-lane road. From a tourism point of view, there is good scope. Despite high potential, there is no industry in the region.

Didn't you protest when Article 370 was abrogated?
No, this is not true. I had said it's okay you have done away with 370 but just like Himachal Pradesh and other states, where people from outside can't buy land or take local jobs, similar safeguards need to be given to the region so that local interests are taken care of.

So, do you favour the abrogation?
It was anyway bound to happen. This (the abrogation) was just a formality. But I feel there is a need for winning the trust of locals - their lands should not be usurped and their jobs should not be taken by outsiders.

You were seen as the Hindu face of the PDP, and now you are part of the BJP. But Jats of your region are unhappy with the delimitation exercise underway as the area inhabited by them is being demarked for SCs. Are you happy with the way the commission is working?
I know Suchetgarh in RS Pura is Jat-dominated and is now reserved for SCs (scheduled castes). But this is the work of an independent body and what can we do about it. A similar thing has happened in Ramgarh. What goes against the Jats in the region is that their population is scattered. There is resentment as their areas have gone for reservation. However, they have a right to put forth their views. I feel the Jats are very much with the BJP. What can the commission do if the population of SCs is more than Jats as the exercise is undertaken on a merit basis. No one can stop them.

See, there are places where some people have faced discrimination. However, I do not want to give you examples. If I give one example, others will have a problem. But I know that there are problems with the commission. Let us see what they do finally.

Talking about 'The Kashmir Files', do you feel the present government is doing enough for the Kashmiri Pandits?
The central government has introduced many schemes, especially for their employment and rehabilitation. I have not seen the movie. The problem is that the leadership of Kashmir does not know on which topics they should talk and on what matter they should remain silent. Who can deny that Kashmiri Pandits have been wronged.

And even this is true that nationalist Muslims who loved Hindustan and swore by the Indian flags were killed. However, today's leadership should avoid making divisive statements aimed solely at getting votes. These votes will not unite the people, the nation and strengthen democracy. You ought to make statements that promote bhaichara in Jammu and Kashmir. Every day you wake up and listen to them making statements on Kashmiri Pandits and Pakistan. Have you ever seen Mehboobaji protesting for bijli-paani-makan-shiksha (electricity-water-house-education)? The same Mehbooba ji, when she was the CM, used to say why do these boys go to Kashmiri Pandit camps - only to get toffee and milk, and now when she is out of power, she is feeling the pain of Kashmiri Pandits.

The official agenda of the PDP has been "na grenade se, na goli se, baat banegi boli se (problems of Kashmir can be solved through talks and not with force)", Can Mehbooba Mufti, with her hand on her heart say she is still living by the words of her late father? When she was CM, do you know how many pellet guns were used in J&K and stones picked up by young boys?