Srinagar: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday accused the BJP of forcing people in Kashmir to stand for the national anthem “at gunpoint,” calling it a failure of the government.
Speaking to reporters in the city’s Baghat area, Mehbooba said, “It is unfortunate that BJP has pushed people to a point where they are compelled to stand for the anthem under coercion. During my student days, we stood up out of respect, not out of fear. This coercion reflects the government’s failure.”
Her remarks came in response to reports of police detaining youths at the TRC football ground on Tuesday evening after they remained seated during the anthem.
During her visit to the playground of the Muslim Educational Trust (MET) at Baghat-e-Barzulla, amid concerns that the police planned to convert the land into a martyrs’ memorial, Mehbooba urged the DGP to reconsider. “The MET ground is the only recreational space for youth and residents. If it is taken away, young people may drift towards drugs or other harmful activities,” she warned.
She also interacted with locals at a dairy farm ground in Chattabal, who have been demanding continued access to the facility. “This field has hosted sports for decades. Even the Prime Minister once praised a cricket tournament in Pulwama. I appeal to the Army Corps Commander to ensure this ground remains with the youth,” she said.
Mehbooba cautioned that depriving young people of public spaces could create resentment. “Police can honor martyrs elsewhere; Jammu and Kashmir has enough land,” she added.
