Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehmooba Mufti on Wednesday described the situation of Kashmiri politicians who, she says, are “disliked and mistrusted by people in J&K for their faith in Indian constitution” and “punished by GOI for not toeing their line.”

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Mufti made the statement regarding the arrest of her party’s youth wing president Waheed ur Rehman Para, who was arrested last year, in November, in connection with the Naveed Babu-DySP Davinder Singh case for supporting the Hizbul Mujahideen terror group, PTI reported.

While in jail, Para fought and won District Development Council (DDC) election from Pulwama.

An NIA (National Investigation Agency) court granted him bail earlier this month but he was arrested by the Counter Insurgency Kashmir (CIK) wing of JK police.

“Waheed’s persecution by the Indian government is emblematic of the situation that Kashmiri politicians find themselves in today,” Mufti said in a tweet.

Describing Para, she said, he comes from a family “where his grandfather would unfurl the Indian flag when not many Kashmiris would do so.”

Mufti also described how the youth leader’s interest in politics grew at a young age and as a child he would ” visit the local MLA’s house & listen to political conversations with rapt attention.” 

“Today the very same system that he placed his faith in is going after him with a vengeance,” the 61-year-old leader charged in another tweet.

“Not having any proof to substantiate these charges, GOI is on a spree where Waheed is arrested by one agency after another. It is sheer political vendetta & an attempt to sabotage the life of a young & promising 32 year old man,” she said.

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“His last hope now rests on the justice system & I hope that truth & justice prevail,” Mufti added.