Srinagar: Alleging that country was being ruled by different agencies who are targeting people raising their voice against ruling party, former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti reiterated to continue fight for restoration of Article 370 and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue.
Emerging from Enforcement Directorate (ED) office at Raj Bagh after being questioned about six hours, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba told reporters that she was asked questions about disbursement of CM’s secret fund among the widows and other, sale of land of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in Anantnag and construction of grave yard of her father (Mufti Sayeed).
She alleged that the country is being ruled by ED, CBI, NIA and other agencies. These agencies are being used against all those who raise their voice against the particular party, without naming BJP.
Mehbooba, chairperson of the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), said country is not being run as per constitution of India but on the agenda of a particular party. Anyone who spoke against this party is being targeted by these agencies, she alleged and said dissent has been criminalised in the country.
“After these agencies failed to get anything against me, they have now tried to target me on other issues”, she said, adding I have nothing to hide as I am clean.
In reply to a question Mehbooba said she was asked question about the disbursement of CM’s secret fund among widows and others. I was asked about how the list of widows was being prepared, she said. I was asked question about the sale of Mufti Sayeeds land and how many funds were spent on his graveyard.
She reiterated that she and her party will continue to fight for the restoration of special status of Jammu and Kashmir. We will fight for 370 restoration and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue, she said.
Earlier, PDP president Mehbooba arrived at Rajbagh office of ED at 1100 hrs. However, without talking to media persons she immediately entered the ED office where her questioning was underway. Earlier, heavy security arrangements had been made around the ED office.
Mehbooba in a letter had asked the ED to question her in Srinagar or make arrangements for same through video conference as she will not appear before the agency in Delhi.
Earlier, the 61-year-old politician was served a notice to appear at the ED headquarter in the national capital, New Delhi on March 15 in a case filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Mehbooba who described the summing by ED as political vendetta approached Delhi court for a stay. However, the A bench of Delhi High Court comprising Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh refused to stay the summons issued to her by ED.
Mehbooba, who is vice chairperson of the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) was released last year after more than a year in detention following the scrapping of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019.
The ED, which had earlier summoned Mehbooba for March 15, had not insisted for her personal appearance at that time. Later, PDP president was summoned for March 22 by the ED.
However, Mehbooba said she was not informed if she is being summoned as an accused or as a witness. She after receiving ED summons had alleged that Centre’s “tactics to intimidate and browbeat political opponents” won’t work.
“GOI’s tactics to intimidate & browbeat political opponents to make them toe their line has become tediously predictable. They don’t want us to raise questions about its punitive actions & policies. Such short-sighted scheming won’t work,” she wrote on Twitter”.
