Srinagar: As more than a dozen senior leaders quit Peoples Democratic Party since the PDP-BJP government fell in June last year, the PDP Chief and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti called the her party deserters as “garbage”.
Former Chief Minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah was quick to deride her or the comments, saying that the PDP deserters referred as ‘garbage’ by Mehbooba Mufti were “honest while they were defending her last year”.
Mehbooba Mufti made the comments while addressing party workers at a function held in connection with third death anniversary of her father and PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
“From this platform, I want to invite the youth of Jammu and Kashmir who are educated and interested in resolution of the Kashmir issue to come and join us…all the garbage in the party has gone out with the wind,” she said.
Defending her recent visit to the family of a slain militant in Pulwama, Mehbooba said she wanted to send across a message that the families of the militants shouldn’t be harassed.
“A girl was being harassed there, it was question of her honour. I thought my visit to the family would send a message to the government that if we have to fight the militants we don’t have to harass their families,” Mehbooba said.
Reacting to the news, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted: “Last year at this very time they were defending her in the assembly & council. With her they were “honest, decent, hardworking” people & after they leave they become “garbage”. The world of politics is indeed a cruel world.”
