Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said that the Centre wants to develop an ecosystem of itself where there is no place for democracy, reported ANI. The PDP leader, who was recently released after 14 months of detention, also slammed the BJP government for the abrogation of Article 370.

“I think BJP wants to develop an ecosystem of itself where there is no place for democracy,” Mufti said.

“Until & unless the Kashmir issue is resolved, the problem will remain and persist. As long as they do not reinstate Article 370 the issue won’t be resolved. Ministers will come and go. Simply conducting elections is no solution to the problem,” she said.

Also read: ‘Illegally detained, daughter under house arrest’, says Mehbooba Mufti

Calling out the District Development Council (DDC) election process, which is taking place for the first in the union territory, Mufti claimed that the candidates of her party faced oppression and were not allowed to go out for campaigning.  

“After we decided to participate in the DDC election, the degree of oppression has increased in Jammu & Kashmir. Candidates of PAGD are confined & are not allowed to go out for campaigning. How candidates will contest if they are not allowed to canvass?” she questioned.

“They call Muslims as ‘Pakistani’, Sardars as ‘Khalistani’, activists as ‘Urban Naxal’ & students as members of ‘Tukde Tukde Gang’ & ‘anti-national’. I fail to understand if everyone is terrorist & anti-national, then who is ‘Hindustani’ in this country? Only BJP workers?” she added.

The 61-year-old politician affirmed that the Modi government is trying to “get to her” and “ban her party”.

She also accused the union government to turn the Roshni into a scam.

Notably, Mufti on Saturday said that she was illegally detained and her daughter Iltija had been placed under house arrest. 

Mufti was among the several leaders who had been taken into preventive custody hours before the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was revoked on August 5, 2019. She was released on October 13 this year.