NC lambasts PDP-BJP govt for crackdown on separatist leaders

Opposition National Conference (NC) today said the PDP-BJP government's "crackdown" on separatist leaders including JKLF chairman Yasin Malik has "exposed the PDP's claims" of facilitating a political engagement between the Hurriyat and the Centre.
"The PDP-BJP 'Agenda of Alliance' had clearly promised new initiatives to facilitate engagement and talks between Hurriyat Leaders and New Delhi, and had also spoken about a proposed 'battle of ideas' with the separatist leadership in the state.
"Today there is an unprecedented crackdown on Hurriyat leaders and some of them have been sent to the Central Jail for cases that are 29 years old. What kind of 'Battle of Ideas' is this?" senior NC leader and former finance minister, Abdul Rahim Rather said addressing a workers' convention at Chrar-e-Sharief in central Kashmir's Budgam district.

He said PDP's 'battle of ideas' had turned out to be a "vicious" and "retributive" battle against ideas.
"Rather than trying to facilitate talks between Hurriyat and New Delhi, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has taken upon herself the task to appease BJP and RSS by ordering retributive action and crackdowns on the homes of Hurriyat Leaders.
"Engaging with the Hurriyat was a mainstay of the PDP-BJP 'Agenda of Alliance' and, like every other promise, this promise too has crumbled to dust within the very first year of this opportunistic alliance," Rather alleged.
The senior NC leader said the PDP-BJP 'Agenda of Alliance' had promised to get the central government to engage in meaningful and sustained dialogue with Hurriyat leadership and also with Islamabad.

"Not only have Hurriyat leaders been prevented from going to New Delhi to meet visiting diplomatic delegations for the first time in the last two decades, PDP has also ensured an unprecedented crackdown on Hurriyat leaders - hounding and humiliating them at every possible opportunity that could have been used to usher a new phase of reconciliation and engagement," he said.