Agneepath Does not Honour Indian Army: PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti

Srinagar: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said that the central government’s Agneepath scheme does not honour the Indian Army and goes against the valour, pride and sacrifices that drive the forces.

“The Agneepath scheme does not honour the Indian Army and is against the hard work, their pride, and the passion for sacrifice they (Army) fight with,” the former chief minister said in Srinagar.

Mufti said that the scheme seems to mirror the plan originally devised by Veer Savarkar, one of the key icons of the Hindutva ideology. “It was Vir Savarkar’s plan who wanted to train the workers of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) who follow the Hindutva – not all Hindus because a majority is secular – so that they can be more brutal in their dealing against the minority community and the others,” she stated.

The PDP leader lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party saying they mishandled the region and pushed Jammu and Kashmir into a difficult situation. Mufti also urged people to unite in solidarity against the punitive actions carried out against them.

“The government is accusing people here of corruption. The anti-corruption bureau is raiding people while some are sacked for being close to militancy. I urge people not to fall in this trap. If your neighbor is being raided, go to this home and the entire neighbourhood should stand by him,” she said.

Mehbooba said the opposition parties have united despite their differences, whether the National Conference, Awami National Conference, Communist Party of India, or CPI (M).

“People should not lose courage and hope. If we accept everything in silence, our condition will become worse than people living in Gaza strip, who still have some rights left,” she said.