PDP president and former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti warned the Central government on Friday that more "Syed Salahuddins and Yasin Maliks would be created" if it split her party and dismissed the voting rights of the people.
Salahuddin who became Hizbul Mujahiddin's chief and Malik who formed Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) were the firsts to take up arms after the 1987 elections in the state were allegedly rigged. "Our party is intact and strong. If they do what they did to Muslim United Front (MUF) to crush it, it will have dangerous consequences," Mufti said.
The ruling BJP reacted sharply and accused her of being pro-terrorists, saying she is threatening of a terror uprising. Opposition National Conference also rubbished her warning, saying her party's split will create not a single militant. Mufti resigned in June after BJP abruptly broke its three-year alliance with her party, citing rising security crisis. The state is under Governor's rule.
Her comments came on a day five rebels from her party held a press conference, tore into her and denied the Centre's role behind their stand.
Mufti was talking to reporters after paying tributes on Kashmir Martyrs Day in Srinagar when she said, "If New Delhi tries to break up our party like in 1987 when they robbed the votes of the people, then I think like 1987 when Yasin Malik and Syed Salahuddin were born."
"She has exposed her proximity with separatists and is trying to give oxygen to terrorists," said Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
Another BJP leader, GVL Narasimha Rao said Mufti's remarks were bizzare and she seemed under tremendous pressure from her own party. "Is she now equating her party with Hizbul Mujahiddin," he asked.
Former J&K Deputy CM and BJP leader Kavinder Gupta said: "It is unfortunate that Mufti is threatening of a terror uprising... She was ruling the state only a few days ago."
NC's Omar Abdullah said not one new miwould be created with PDP's break-up, and people would not mourn the demise of a party created in Delhi to divide Kashmiri votes.
"She must really be desperate if she is threatening the Centre with renewed militancy. She seems to have forgotten that militancy in Kashmir has already been reborn under her most able administration," he said.
J&K Assembly Speaker Nirmal Singh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, triggering speculation of BJP preparing to form the next government in the state with its own man as CM.
Modi met Singh after having a detailed meeting with BJP's J&K in-charge and party secretary, Ram Madhav, the same day.
Sources say BJP is looking to appoint a Hindu CM with support from PDP rebels. An announcement is expected once Amarnath Yatra wraps up on August 28.
Madhav had earlier met People's Conference chief Sajjad Lone, believed to have been offered the post of Deputy CM.
On July 4, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and NSA Ajit Doval were in Srinagar. Madhav is believed to have visited Srinagar twice.
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