Mehbooba Mufti Calls J&K's UT Foundation Day As 'Black Day'

Mehbooba Mufti, leader of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and former chief minister, described the Union Territory's foundation day as a "black day" for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"What has happened to J&K has not happened anywhere before. I want to tell the LG that for the people of J&K, and especially for the PDP, today is a black day and we will view it as such until J&K's special privileges are restored," Mufti stated to reporters in Pulwama.

Photo Credit: PTI

She added that her party would continue its struggle until the Kashmir issue is resolved in a way that establishes peace with dignity.

"I hope the newly elected government will bring together all the people and work to lift J&K out of the current situation," she further commented.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress president and MLA Tariq Hameed Karra also called the UT foundation day a "black day," remarking that it was unreasonable to expect people to celebrate it.

On Thursday, the lieutenant governor's administration commemorated the fifth foundation day of the J&K Union Territory.

Mainstream Valley-based political parties criticised the LG administration's celebration of the UT foundation day and opted to boycott the event.

The ruling National Conference did not attend, nor did People's Conference leader Sajad Gani Lone or CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, who noted that the administration proceeded with the programme despite the people "clearly voting" against it.

"For the people of Jammu and Kashmir, it is a black day. If you think people are going to celebrate it, you are asking for too much," said Tariq Karra.

Karra responded to a question regarding Congress leaders' absence from the event organised by the LG administration.

He added that the Congress party would not attend any event celebrating what he described as a mockery of the constitutional setup.

"This is not just the view of the Congress party, but of all those affected by this mockery," he concluded.