SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti on Friday came out in support of cricketer Furqan Ul Haq, who has landed in controversy for sporting a Palestine flag on his helmet during a cricket tournament in Jammu, saying there was nothing wrong in speaking about the situation in Gaza.
Her remarks came a day after Jammu and Kashmir Police ordered a preliminary enquiry following circulation of videos and photographs showing the Kashmiri cricketer wearing a helmet bearing the Palestine flag.
Questioning the action, Iltija Mufti said people in Jammu and Kashmir were being “summoned for everything”. “Do we not have the freedom to speak freely? If we speak about Palestine, what is wrong with that?” she asked.
Referring to protests across the world, the PDP leader said demonstrations against the killing of civilians in Gaza were taking place in London, Europe and the United States. “An entire generation is being wiped out there,” she told reporters.
She alleged that people in Jammu and Kashmir were being targeted for “anything and everything”, claiming that even VPNs were being banned. “There is no rule of law here anymore. Everything is being done in the garb of law,” she said.
The tournament, which began on December 29 in Jammu, has been described by the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association as a private event, with the association stating it has no role or recognition of the tournament.
Responding to reports that the BJP would not allow “Hamas ideology” to prevail in Jammu and Kashmir, Iltija Mufti said the party would not be allowed to impose its “Hindutva ideology” in the Union Territory. She alleged that Kashmiri students and shawl vendors were facing attacks in other states and criticised what she termed as selective outrage.
She also referred to a recent viral video involving Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, alleging disrespect towards Muslim women, and said such incidents reflected growing intolerance.
Claiming a prevailing sense of “hopelessness” in Jammu and Kashmir, Iltija Mufti accused the elected government of remaining silent. She alleged that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was implementing the BJP’s agenda and criticised him for not raising issues like Article 370.
Commenting on the Chief Minister’s announcement of no general electricity tariff hike, the PDP leader said it meant little to the people, alleging that power tariffs had increased by 300 per cent over the past four years. She questioned how daily wage earners could afford high electricity bills amid frequent power cuts, especially during the ongoing Chilla-i-Kalan.
She further alleged that the National Conference government had failed to fulfil its poll promises, including providing free electricity units and preventing the installation of prepaid meters, and accused it of neglecting basic services like electricity and rations during winter.
