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- Published: October 23, 2020 21:45
New Delhi: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Friday stoked controversy with her remarks in first press conference after her release from house arrest.
She said that she would raise the Indian tricolour only when the Jammu-Kashmir state flag is ‘brought back’.
Addressing her press conference after being released from detention, she said: “My flag is this (points to the flag of J&K kept on the table in front of her). When this flag comes back, we will raise that flag (tricolour) too. Until we get our own flag back, we won’t raise any other flag…This flag forged our relationship with that flag.”
“Our relationship with the flag of this country is not independent of this flag (Jammu and Kashmir’s flag). When this flag comes in our hand, we will raise that flag too,” she added.
The PDP chief also said that she will not contest any election until Article 370 is restored.
“I have been a street fighter. I have no interest in elections. Until our status is back, Mehbooba Mufti will not contest any elections. My struggle will not be for restoration of Article 370, it will be the resolution of Kashmir problem,” she said.
“We have acceded to a liberal, democratic and secular India. We are uncomfortable with today’s India,” Mufti said.
Mufti said that Jammu and Kashmir came into an international spotlight like never before after Article 370 was revoked.
“It is a fact that China captured 1000 sq km of our land. I think we somehow managed to get back around 40 km. China speaks of Article 370 too. They say it is disputed and ask why was J&K made UT? Jammu and Kashmir came into international view like never before after abrogation,” she added.
Mufti, who was in detention from August 5 last year following the abrogation of the special status of the erstwhile state, was released on October 13.