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| 'Wouldn't have allowed Army to kill Burhan Wani', says Mehbooba | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 13: Courting fresh controversy, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President has said that she would not have allowed the army to kill militant Burhan Wani had she known prior to the gun battle.
"It was very unfortunate thing that happened. I have said this several times that had I known Burhan Wani was present in that encounter I would not have allowed them to kill him. I knew that he was popular on social media and he was not involved in any encounter and he had not killed anyone. So even as chief minister I had given orders in unified command that local militants should be given a chance to come back," Mehbooba on Wednesday said in an interview with a Mumbai based newspaper.
This is for the first time that such a clear support to militancy in Kashmir was extended by Mehbooba Mufti. Earlier, the support used to be insidious thing and her party so far used to just send feelers of support for the militants. As elections are just a month away, the former chief minister is out with full support to Kashmir's militancy. It was interestingly on October 30 when Jammu and Kashmir Governor stated that he admits the fact that when Mehbooba Mufti was the chief minister of the state, the recruitment of militants witnessed a spike and also those pelting stones too found it easier to attack the security forces. "I have not gone to Jammu and Kashmir with the BJP's band wagon. I will work as per the constitution and as far as the previous government in the state is concerned, there must be some reason that the support from the PDP was withdrawn. And I admit the fact that while Mehbooba Mufti was the chief minister of the state, the militant recruitment got increased and stone pelters too got away easily while pelting the stones.
And what we are reaping at present is what the coalition did in the state but at that time those who were in alliance partners in the government should have reacted to the mistakes being done. Today, I am not answerable to their wrongs," Governor Malik had said in an interview then. Mehbooba earlier lauded Pakistan PM Imran Khan for releasing captured IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman and said that he acted like a statesman. She also expressed hope that the Indian leadership will also reciprocate this peace gesture. Briefing the joint session of the parliament PM Khan announced that Varthaman will be released tomorrow as a "peace gesture".
"Good news, whole nation will be relieved. I hope our leadership will also reciprocate this peace gesture. I hope Imran Khan will stand by his word and take steps on Indian dossier on Pulwama attack," Mehbooba said.
It has been seen perhaps for the first time that when the entire nation was standing united against Pakistan, it was the PDP leadership that hailed the Pak PM much ahead of him being hailed by his own country men. |
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