“If you try to fiddle with it, that means you will have to re-negotiate a new relationship with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. You will have to ask the people about their decision then. That means you are giving a choice to the people of J&K that they have to re-negotiate about their future. You are giving them a choice, a chance. Is BJP ready to do that? I do not think so,” she said.
Mehbooba said if Article 370 has to be discussed, the BJP should figure out ways to strengthen it. “They (BJP) should discuss how to give more administrative powers, more share in the civil services, compensation on water resources, our own elected governor,” she said.
The PDP chief expressed hope that the Prime Minister will intervene in the matter and assure the people of the state that no power can play with their dignity and honour. “If BJP wants to bring the people of the state closer, they should talk about strengthening Article 370 rather than abolishing it.
“I hope the PM intervenes and reassures the people of the state that no power on this Earth is going to play with the dignity and the honour of the people of the state. He should address the internal as well as the external dimensions of the Kashmir issue and the people of the state should be able to live with dignity in the country,” she said.
Mufti expressed hope that “the Prime Minister is able to use his discipline to discipline these junior ministers who have become the ministers for the first time and not rake up the issue which is so sensitive because the people of the state have already suffered a lot”.
