Cracks in People’s Democratic Party (PDP) widened further on Friday after five senior leaders lashed out at the party president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for promoting ‘Dynasty Rule’. Addressing a hurriedly convened press conference, the five senior leaders-Javaid Hussain Baig, Imran Ansari, Abdul Majid Paddar, Yasir Rishi and Saifuddin Bhat slammed Mehbooba for her remarks that the youth will take up arms if New Delhi tries to break her party.
“Mehbooba Mufti has ruled the state for two years. Even during her tenure, people picked up the arms. Her statement is absolutely absurd,” former Minister Imran Raza Ansari said elected representatives and promoting family rule in the party. “We have no faith in Mehbooba Mufti’s leadership. We want an end to the dynasty rule in the party,” he added. MLA Baramulla, Javaid Hussain Baig said that PDP had no militants or separatists in its fold and the party firmly believes that the accession of Jammu and Kashmir with India is final. “Mehbooba is putting our lives and lives of our family and workers at risk by makingan irrelevant statement,” Baig said. Baig said that the resentment in the party against Mehbooba started from the very day she assumed the role of party president and Chief Minister of the state. He said that the resentment was growing in PDP ever since Mehbooba took charge of the party and became Chief Minister of the state.
“We are part of this party. We will not resign. Instea,d we will reform this party so that we can serve the people of the state,” he said.